News

Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes first U.S. pope taking the name Leo XIV

2025/05/09 20:00

A new pope has been elected to lead 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. Cardinal Robert Prevost , the first American pope, took the name Pope Leo XIV , hoping to serve as a bridge between tradition and reform. His first message to the public was "peace." Shin Se-byuck reports. As white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel at 6:05 PM on Thursday local time, the world welcomed a new pope. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Leo XIV, has become the first American pope in the over 2-thousand-year history of the Catholic Church. Emerging in the traditional white cassock, the new pope appeared on the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square to deliver his first message to the world. The 69-year-old was elected on the fourth round of voting, just two days after the conclave began, with at least two-thirds of the 133 cardinal votes needed to confirm his selection. His election comes 17 days after the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis. In the Vatican, the atmosphere was one of celebration as the faithful welcomed the newly elected pontiff. "Having the leader of the Catholic Church to be from the same country as I am, I have just felt like I just felt very proud." "Really happy and really happy. It's a big surprise and a big blessing for the church and for the church in the United States, and the church in the Americas." U.S. President Donald Trump also took to social media, saying it's an "honor" to see the first American pope. Back in his hometown of Chicago, the mood was equally celebratory. "Very surprised and then elated." "It's exciting. American. It's it's nice for us." Born in 1955 in Chicago, Leo XIV served in Peru for two decades, working with indigenous communities and the poor before being appointed archbishop in 2015. In 2023, he was elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis and took on the influential role of prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing key church appointments. The name "Leo," from the Latin word for "lion," symbolizes strength, courage, and leadership in the Catholic tradition. The last pope to bear the name, Leo XIII, who served for 25 years from 1878, is credited with laying the foundation for modern Catholic teaching by addressing the social challenges of the industrial era. Cardinal Prevost's choice of the name Leo XIV is seen as a nod to this legacy. His diverse background, combining North American roots and deep Latin American connections, is being viewed as a potential bridge within the global Church, appealing to both conservative and progressive factions. Looking ahead, Leo XIV is expected to visit South Korea in 2027 for the next World Youth Day. This would mark the fourth visit by a pope to South Korea and the first in 13 years since Pope Francis visited in August 2014. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

Official campaigning for June 3 Presidential Election to begin on Monday

2025/05/09 20:00

Official campaigning will begin on Monday for the June 3rd Presidential Election. After the National Election Commission receives candidate registrations on Saturday and Sunday, official contenders can take to the streets until the day before the election. Official candidate posters will be displayed at some 80-thousand locations across the country, with 26-million campaign booklets and 25-million flyers distributed to households nationwide. Candidates, family members and campaign staff will be allowed to hand out name cards and display banners. Outdoor speeches and discussions can be held in public spaces between 7 AM and 11 PM. Candidates' top ten policy pledges will also be available on the commission's election policy website.

DP candidate Lee Jae-myung visits conservative stronghold ahead of official campaign kickoff

2025/05/09 20:00

The liberal party's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung chose traditionally conservative-leaning Gyeongsangbuk-do Province for his campaign today. This comes amid his legal risk being cleared for now, but repercussions still ongoing. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung began a two-day visit to the Gyeongsang-do provinces today, to meet with residents. It marks his final regional trip before the official campaign kicks off on Monday, and he chose to focus on areas known as conservative strongholds. At his first stop in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Lee said the president is just a tool chosen by the people and encouraged voters to choose a trustworthy worker. He also appealed to voters by pledging full National Assembly support for the upcoming APEC summit in the city. "I'm sure the people of Gyeongju will help build not just a better city, but a new and hopeful Korea for the people one that's for the people and respects the people." Ahead of the official campaign, Lee's camp introduced its strategy for the presidential race. The camp decided to focus on national unity with a brand identity using both blue and red. It highlighted three key points: ending what it called "insurrection" and restoring democracy, helping Korea become a global leader, and building a united nation. Meanwhile, following the Supreme Court's decision on Lee's election law violation case, the DP, which has been describing it as political interference, continues to urge an investigation into the top court's ruling. This comes despite the removal of a major legal hurdle for Lee, as the high court postponed a rehearing and review of its verdict until after the presidential election. Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae said on Friday that the best way for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to protect the judiciary's honor and do what's right was to step down before it was too late. Judges from around the country have decided to hold an extraordinary meeting on May 26th to discuss the controversy surrounding the Supreme Court's ruling on Lee. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Divided Right, Resilient Left: S. Korea's election battle Intensifies

2025/05/09 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. With the presidential election just weeks away, South Korea's conservative bloc has hit a critical impasse. Hopes for a unified conservative candidacy collapsed this week after two high-stakes meetings between Kim Moon-soo, the newly nominated People Power Party candidate, and independent contender Han Duck-soo ended in failure. Despite growing pressure from party leadership and the looming May 11 registration deadline, the two failed to reconcile their differences going forward. This breakdown not only clouds the conservative strategy but also injects fresh uncertainty into an already volatile race. Meanwhile, the opposition's Lee Jae-myung continues to poll strongly, even in head-to-head matchups. For a closer look at the situation, we invited Song Se-ryun, Professor of Law at Kyung Hee University. Welcome. Also joining us is Lee Hee-eun, Dean and Professor of Law at Handong International Law School. Great to see you. (SONG) 1. Let's start with Prof.Song, so the unification of the broader conservative bloc, which had seemed to gain momentum following Kim Moon-soo's nomination as the People Power Party's presidential candidate, has hit a stalemate after independent preliminary candidate Han Duck-soo stepped in. Despite meetings on the 7th and 8th, the two sides failed to reach an agreement. What are your thoughts on the outcome of those meetings? (LEE) 2. Now, to Prof. Lee, we have been aware that Kim Moon-soo was among the most proactive about candidate unification during the party primary. What do you think is the background behind his shift in stance? (LEE) 3. The People Power Party leadership laid out a "unification roadmap," proposing a debate followed by public polling to determine the final candidate. However, Kim Moon-soo's camp has effectively rejected this plan. What impact could this conflict between the party leadership and candidate Kim have on the upcoming election? (SONG) 4. Meanwhile, Former Acting President Han Duck-soo has declared that if a unified candidacy is not achieved by the registration deadline of May 11, he will not register as a candidate. How should we interpret his statement Prof. Song? (LEE) 5. Just hours ago, the court has dismissed both injunction requests filed by Kim Moon-soo—one seeking to affirm his status as the official candidate, and another to block the convening of the People Power Party's National Committee and Party Congress. What's the reasoning behind the court's decision? And what about the possibility, now being discussed in some circles, of replacing the party's candidate? (SONG) 6. The ongoing discord surrounding unification appears to be wearing on the electorate. In terms of strategy Prof. Song, how do you think the People Power Party should address voter fatigue and move forward? (LEE) 7. According to a recent Gallup Korea poll, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung is leading a hypothetical matchup against a unified conservative candidate. This is despite the Supreme Court returning his public election law violation case for review at the high court. What do you make of his continued lead Prof. Lee? (SONG) 8. Lee Jae-myung's rehearing and review of the verdict in his election law violations case has been postponed from May 15 to June 18 — after the presidential election. Prof. Song, how should we interpret the court's decision, and what impact could it have on the election? (BOTH) 9. With less than a month until election day, what major variables remain that could shake up the race?

Kim Moon-soo denied helped from court as PPP weighs Han merger in private

2025/05/09 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. The People Power Party and its presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo met today amid severe conflict over the single candidacy for the conservative camp. What looked to be an amicable meet-up soon turned frigid as neither seemed to have changed their stances. Hours later, a court dismissed Kim's request seeking his candidacy status protected. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest. Amid escalating tensions over the conservative bloc merger, a Seoul court on Friday evening dismissed a request by People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo to block what he called an attempt by the party's leadership to unlawfully remove him as the nominee. Kim has argued that the party leadership is sidelining him in favor of merging with independent candidate Han Duck-soo with Han on the ballot. This also comes after Kim's dramatic first appearance at a full floor meeting of PPP lawmakers since winning the primary on Friday morning, a move that some thought was a sign of easing tensions with the party. He took to the podium with positivity. "Esteemed lawmakers of our proud People Power Party, I sincerely love and respect you all." But positivity and eased tensions were not his intention. He proceeded to double down on his criticism of the leadership for forcing the merger with Han. "Even now, the party leadership is using every unlawful and unjust means to remove me and install an independent candidate as our party's nominee." The party's interim-leader responded and charged out of the meeting in anger. "I won't say much. But if someone wants to be a true leader — a greater leader — they must be willing to let go of themselves." Kim followed soon after. As he exited the chamber, several lawmakers urged him to stay and talk but Kim brushed past them, a clear display of just how deep the rift has grown. Kim has continued to call for a merger to happen next week, saying a rushed deal would only hurt both camps and fail to win over voters. But the PPP leadership is pushing for a merger before Sunday the official deadline to register candidates warning that if Han registers as an independent, he'll be listed lower on the ballot and barred from using the party's name or logo even if he becomes the final candidate between the two. Han, for his part, has drawn a firm line no merger by Sunday, no candidacy at all. Meanwhile, the party conducted a two-day internal vote among registered members, along with a public opinion poll, to decide its official nominee. Voting among members ended at 4 PM Friday, and the public poll wrapped up at 1 PM. Although results cannot be publicly released due to election regulations, they may be disclosed behind closed doors as PPP lawmakers gathered for another floor-wide meeting at 8 PM. Now, with the court refusing to intervene and Sunday's deadline fast approaching, the party is free to act and the internal survey could prove decisive in shaping what comes next. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

[Weather] Rain continues in central areas until Saturday, cooling trend this weekend

2025/05/09 20:00

There has been a dramatic shift in the weather lately, and today we faced widespread rain and strong winds. Jeju Island had rough weather with rain and wind advisories. While the rain will mostly stop in the southern regions and Jeju by tonight, it's expected to linger in the capital areas until early tomorrow and Gangwon-do could see rain into the afternoon. The daytime highs were 10 degrees lower than yesterday in the capital. Temperatures will remain below the norms throughout the weekend. For a closer look, Seoul and Daejeon wake up to a low of 12 degrees, Gwangju at 13 degrees. Partial sunshine returns to Busan and Jeju by the afternoon with a high of 19 degrees, but Seoul only gets up to 15 degrees under cloudy skies. Next week looks to be more promising with wider gaps between lows and highs. That's Korea for you. Here's a look at the international weather conditions.

[Arts & Culture] Discovering the story of Joseon Tongsinsa in Seoul

2025/05/09 20:00

Time now for our Arts and Culture segment. As always, we're joined by our culture correspondent, Song Yoo-jin. Welcome! Happy Friday! What do you have for us today? Over the past two weeks, I've been bringing you the story of the Joseon Tongsinsa through the reenacted envoy procession and the recreated ship that sailed to Japan. Today, I'll take you inside a special exhibition in Seoul that dives into the history behind this centuries-old diplomatic mission. These paintings offer a glimpse into the original Joseon Tongsinsa missions, depicting the formal procession and the ships that carried the envoys across the sea to Japan. For those curious about how these centuries-old diplomatic journeys helped bridge the two countries, you can step back in time here. "This exhibition, 'Bonds of the Heart, Waves of Resonance,' currently on at the Seoul Museum of History, is the largest-ever held on the Joseon Tongsinsa. It also marks the museum's biggest exhibition since its opening in 2002." More than 100 artifacts from both Korea and Japan are on display, some of them listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. "The Tongsinsa missions were launched after the Imjin War, at a time when Japan was still viewed as a sworn enemy. But Joseon decided to restore diplomatic ties for the peace and stability of its people. Those efforts to rebuild trust is what we've focused on." The three-part exhibition traces the history of the 12 Tongsinsa missions from the 17th to 19th centuries, from their dispatch and sea voyage, to cultural exchanges in Japan, and their return home. "As the missions continued, mutual understanding grew, and many of the artifacts on display, such as the handwritten exchanges and literary works by the envoys, reflect that deepening relationship." That human connection is captured in this painting, collected by the late Korean historian Shin Gi-su. Shin donated over a hundred artifacts related to the Joseon Tongsinsa to the Osaka Museum of History. "This painting shows an everyday interaction. An envoy on horseback is greeted by a Japanese citizen, almost like an autograph signing. While we have many records of formal diplomacy, there's little that shows how ordinary people connected with the envoys." The first part of 'Bonds of the Heart, Waves of Resonance' will close on May 25th. The second and final phase will open on May 27th with new artifacts, until June 29th. You just gave us a sneak peek that we'll get to see some new artifacts once the exhibition enters its second phase. What can we expect in the latter half? That caught my interest too, so I asked Curator Oh directly. She explained that while the first phase of the exhibition walks visitors through the overall journey of the Joseon Tongsinsa, from their departure in Seoul to their arrival in Japan, the second phase will zoom in on more detailed aspects of the missions. For example, one of the new artifacts for phase two will be a painting of a Tongsinsa ship carrying an official royal letter from the Joseon king to the Japanese ruler, the Shogun. Safely delivering this letter to Tokyo was considered the core purpose of the entire diplomatic mission. Other highlights include illustrations of Joseon's horseback performances, which were a major crowd-pleaser among Japanese locals at the time. Sounds fascinating, and hopefully you'll be covering the second phase for us as well. And Yoo-jin, you previously mentioned that the Tongsinsa procession and ship you've been following this year are based on the 11th mission. Can you tell us more about that specific journey and whether the exhibition highlights it in any particular way? Absolutely. The 11th mission, which took place from 1763 to 64, is often regarded as the highlight of the 12 official Tongsinsa missions. That's because by that point, the diplomatic relationship between Korea and Japan was pretty much restored, and mutual understanding had grown significantly. As a result, the exchange of culture and ideas, especially between Joseon envoys and Japanese scholars, reached a high point. That's why the greatest number of travel records and collections of envoy poetry were published during that mission. In fact, the exhibition's final section, part three, includes a dedicated space highlighting the 11th Tongsinsa mission and its significance. It's located at the very end of the gallery. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin, thank you as always for your reporting. Always a pleasure.

Tensions get worse between India and Pakistan with drone and missile attacks

2025/05/09 20:00

Over in South Asia, Tensions between India and Pakistan are getting worse. Both sides keep attacking and retaliating with drone and missile strikes. India stated on Thursday, it had intercepted Pakistani airstrikes on its military sites, while Pakistan denied this, and claimed it shot down 25 Indian drones. On the same day, India carried out airstrikes in parts of Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This came a day after India claimed to have struck nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites in Pakistan in response to the massacre of 26 individuals, mostly Indian tourists, by militants in April.

Putin, Xi pledge to deepen ties, urge other nations to drop sanctions against N. Korea

2025/05/09 20:00

Leaders of Russia and China have met in Moscow seeking a deeper partnership, apparently with the United States in mind. Their agenda also covered urging the international community to abandon sanctions on North Korea. Our Choi Soo-hyung has more. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Moscow on Thursday, local time, and signed a joint statement where they pledged to strengthen cooperation in all areas, including military ties. During their talks in the Kremlin, the two leaders cast themselves as "defenders of a new world order no longer dominated by the U.S.," amid growing pressure from the West. "Our common heroic past and combat brotherhood are a reliable foundation for the development and strengthening of Russian-Chinese relations. And these relations have reached the highest level in history." The two sides also addressed global issues, including those related to North Korea. They called on other countries to drop sanctions against Pyongyang, while saying issues on the Korean Peninsula must be resolved "only through diplomatic means." " China and Russia will continue to stand together, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, and international order based on international law, and continue to promote an equal and orderly multi-polar world." One expert suggested the reason Russia and China are backing North Korea could be because of the North's role in countering threats from the West. "I can only speculate that North Korea is playing an important role in this anti-Western strategy. In the immediate circumstances, it's providing weaponry, it's providing artillery, it's providing soldiers, and, of course, it's testing these short-range missiles for export, for use in other battlefields as well. So it may be that North Korea is simply 'useful' in this respect for both the great powers China and Russia." Xi and other world leaders attended the annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow on Friday, to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two. This was the first time in 10 years for the Chinese leader to attend the event. At the parade Putin also met with a North Korean military delegation and Sin Hong-chol, the North's ambassador to Russia, saying Russia supports those participating in the "special military operation" in Ukraine. The South Korean government earlier said it had received an invitation from Russia, but decided not to attend. This is likely because sending a senior official to the parade showcasing Russia's military capabilities could in itself send the wrong signal, especially at a time when Pyongyang and Moscow have been continuing arms cooperation, which is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

UK first to strike trade deal with Trump

2025/05/09 20:00

U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have announced a new trade deal. Details remain limited, but it's expected to lower tariffs on cars, steel and aluminum. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. Britain became the first country to strike a trade deal with the United States on Thursday, since U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs announced last month. Nothing was officially signed during the Oval Office event announcing the trade deal, and many specifics about the deal were not immediately clear. According to President Trump,.. the final details are being written up, and will be made official in the coming weeks. However, according to a fact sheet from the White House, the trade deal will keep in place a ten percent blanket U.S. tariff on UK imports. It will also adjust tariffs on UK cars so that the first 100-thousand vehicles imported from British carmakers each year would be subject to a 10 percent rate, with additional vehicles facing a 25 percent tariff. Speaking to workers and reporters during a visit to a car factory in West Midlands, England on Thursday, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer praised the deal, calling it "historic." "And I'm really pleased to announce to you and I wanted to come to you to announce it, that we've agreed the basis of a historic economic prosperity deal. And that is a deal that will protect British businesses and save thousands of jobs in Britain. Really important, skilled, well-paid jobs." The deal will see U.S. tariffs on British cars slashed from 27-point-5 percent to ten percent. Also, import duties on steel and aluminum will be reduced to zero. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Seoul condemns N. Korea's missile test as Kim Jong-un pushes nuclear readiness

2025/05/09 17:00

South Korea has denounced North Korea for its latest launch of missiles which took place Thursday morning and marks the regime's fourth such test for this year. The Unification Ministry on this Friday asserted the launch violates UN Security Council resolutions and undermines peace on the peninsula. North Korea's state media for its part reported also on this Friday that Kim Jong-un oversaw a test of short-range ballistic missiles and long-range artillery back on Thursday COINCIDING with the launches detected by South Korea. Kim also reportedly stressed the significance of strengthening the combat readiness of his regime's nuclear forces.

Putin, Xi pledge to deepen ties, while urging other nations to drop sanctions against N. Korea

2025/05/09 17:00

Russia and China have reportedly called on the international community to surrender sanctions and pressure on North Korea and to seek diplomacy in tackling tensions on the Korean peninsula. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Moscow on Thursday local time, and signed a joint statement where they pledged to strengthen cooperation in all areas, including military ties. During their talks in the Kremlin, the two leaders cast themselves as "defenders of a new world order no longer dominated by the U.S.," amid growing pressure from the West. "Our common heroic past and combat brotherhood are a reliable foundation for the development and strengthening of Russian-Chinese relations. And these relations have reached the highest level in history." The two sides also addressed global issues, including those on North Korea. They called on other nations to drop sanctions against Pyongyang, while saying issues on the Korean Peninsula must be resolved "only through diplomatic means." " China and Russia will continue to stand together, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and international order based on international law, and continue to promote an equal and orderly multi-polar world." One expert suggests the reason why Russia and China are backing North Korea could be because of the North's role in countering threats from the West. "I can only speculate that North Korea is playing an important role in this anti-Western strategy. In the immediate circumstances, it's providing weaponry, it's providing artillery, it's providing soldiers, and of course it's testing these short-range missiles for export, for use in other battlefields as well. So it may be that North Korea is simply 'useful' in this respect for both the great powers China and Russia." On Friday,.. Xi and other world leaders will attend the annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two. This will be the first time in 10 years that the Chinese leader is attending the event. North Korean ambassador to Russia is also expected to be there. The South Korean government earlier said it had received an invitation from Russia, but decided not to attend. This is likely because sending a senior official to the parade showcasing Russia's military capabilities could in itself send the wrong signal, especially at a time when Pyongyang and Moscow have been continuing arms cooperation, which is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes first U.S. pope taking the name Leo XIV

2025/05/09 17:00

The Catholic Church has ushered in its first American pope as cardinals on Thursday elected Pope Leo the 14th as the 2-hundred-67th pontiff. Shin Se-byuck covers this latest development. As white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel at 6:05 PM on Thursday local time, the world welcomed a new pope. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Leo XIV, has become the first American pope in the over 2-thousand-year history of the Catholic Church. Emerging in the traditional white cassock, the new pope appeared on the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square to deliver his first message to the world. The 69-year-old was elected on the fourth round of voting, just two days after the conclave began, with at least two-thirds of the 133 cardinal votes needed to confirm his selection. His election comes 17 days after the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis. In the Vatican, the atmosphere was one of celebration as the faithful welcomed the newly elected pontiff. "Having the leader of the Catholic Church to be from the same country as I am, I have just felt like I just felt very proud." "Really happy and really happy. It's a big surprise and a big blessing for the church and for the church in the United States, and the church in the Americas." U.S. President Donald Trump also took to social media, saying it's an "honor" to see the first American pope. Back in his hometown of Chicago, the mood was equally celebratory. "Very surprised and then elated." "It's exciting. American. It's it's nice for us." Born in 1955 in Chicago, Leo XIV served in Peru for two decades, working with indigenous communities and the poor before being appointed archbishop in 2015. In 2023, he was elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis and took on the influential role of prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing key church appointments. The name "Leo," from the Latin word for "lion," symbolizes strength, courage, and leadership in the Catholic tradition. The last pope to bear the name, Leo XIII, who served for 25 years from 1878, is credited with laying the foundation for modern Catholic teaching by addressing the social challenges of the industrial era. Cardinal Prevost's choice of the name Leo XIV is seen as a nod to this legacy. His diverse background, combining North American roots and deep Latin American connections, is being viewed as a potential bridge within the global Church, appealing to both conservative and progressive factions. Looking ahead, Leo XIV is expected to visit South Korea in 2027 for the next World Youth Day. This would mark the fourth visit by a pope to South Korea and the first in 13 years since Pope Francis visited in August 2014. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

UK first to strike trade deal with Trump

2025/05/09 17:00

Elsewhere. U.S. President Donald Trump and his British counterpart Keir Starmer have touted a trade deal but details remain limited as broader negotiations continue. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. Britain became the first country to strike a trade deal with the United States on Thursday, since U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs announced last month. Nothing was officially signed during the Oval Office event announcing the trade deal, and many specifics about the deal were not immediately clear. According to President Trump,.. the final details are being written up, and will be made official in the coming weeks. However, according to a fact sheet from the White House, the trade deal will keep in place a ten percent blanket U.S. tariff on UK imports. It will also adjust tariffs on UK cars so that the first 100-thousand vehicles imported from British carmakers each year would be subject to a 10 percent rate, with additional vehicles facing a 25 percent tariff. Speaking to workers and reporters during a visit to a car factory in West Midlands, England on Thursday, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer praised the deal, calling it "historic." "And I'm really pleased to announce to you and I wanted to come to you to announce it, that we've agreed the basis of a historic economic prosperity deal. And that is a deal that will protect British businesses and save thousands of jobs in Britain. Really important, skilled, well-paid jobs." The deal will see U.S. tariffs on British cars slashed from 27-point-5 percent to ten percent. Also, import duties on steel and aluminum will be reduced to zero. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea logs current account surplus for 23rd straight month in March

2025/05/09 17:00

On the economic front. Korea's current account remained in positive territory for the 23rd month in a row in March with a surplus of over NINE BILLION U.S. dollars. Our Moon Ji-young covers the latest findings. South Korea's current account remained in the black in March for the twenty-third month in a row. Data from the Bank of Korea released on Friday shows the country's current account registered a surplus of 9-point-1-4 billion U.S. dollars for the month. This figure marks a sharp increase compared to the same period last year, and is significantly higher than February's figure. It comes as the goods balance, which tracks exports and imports of products and accounts for the largest portion of the current account, registered a surplus of almost 8-point-5 billion dollars. Overall exports rose by 2-point-2 percent year-on-year to 59-point-3 billion dollars on strong demand for IT products. Specifically, chip exports reversed a one-month decline, increasing by 12 percent year-on-year. Outbound shipments of computers also climbed sharply, rising by 32 percent year-on-year. Exports of non-IT products, including pharmaceuticals and cars, also rose, while petroleum products and steel products saw a decline. On the other hand, the services balance continued to remain in the red, owing to deficits in the travel and other business services accounts. However, the deficit amount narrowed compared to February. Looking at the first three months of this year, the cumulative current account surplus totaled more than 19 billion dollars, which is larger than the 16 billion dollars recorded during the same period last year. However, uncertainties lie ahead concerning new tariff measures by the Trump administration. "Although the first quarter surplus was higher than last year, new U.S. tariffs are expected to have a stronger impact. This could result in the current account surplus being smaller than initially projected." Meanwhile, imports rose by 2-point-3 percent year-on-year, driven by strong demand for capital goods -any physical asset used for production -and consumer goods. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

DP candidate Lee Jae-myung visits conservative stronghold ahead of official campaign kickoff

2025/05/09 17:00

Liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung for his part entered the final leg of his regional tour ahead of the official campaign period starting next week. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung began a two-day visit to the Gyeongsang-do provinces today, to meet with residents. It marks his final regional trip before the official campaign kicks off on Monday, and he chose to focus on areas known as conservative strongholds. At his first stop in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Lee said the president is just a tool chosen by the people and encouraged voters to choose a trustworthy worker. He also appealed to voters by pledging full National Assembly support for the upcoming APEC summit in the city. "I'm sure the people of Gyeongju will help build not just a better city, but a new and hopeful Korea for the people one that's for the people and respects the people." Ahead of the official campaign, Lee's camp introduced its strategy for the presidential race. The camp decided to focus on national unity with a brand identity using both blue and red. It highlighted three key points: ending what it called "insurrection" and restoring democracy, helping Korea become a global leader, and building a united nation. Meanwhile, following the Supreme Court's decision on Lee's election law violation case, the DP, which has been describing it as political interference, continues to urge an investigation into the top court's ruling. This comes despite the removal of a major legal hurdle for Lee, as the high court postponed a rehearing and review of its verdict until after the presidential election. Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae said on Friday that the best way for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to protect the judiciary's honor and do what's right was to step down before it was too late. Judges from around the country have decided to hold an extraordinary meeting on May 26th to discuss the controversy surrounding the Supreme Court's ruling on Lee. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Two days before merger deadline, Kim and PPP leadership drift further apart

2025/05/09 17:00

We start yet again on the local political front. The conservative party remains embroiled in internal conflict over a possible coalition. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon is standing by live on the line with the latest. Do-yeon, welcome. So I hear the party's presidential candidate and the leadership of the party remain at odds? Sun-hee, "at odds" might be an understatement at this point. For the first time since winning the PPP presidential primary, Kim Moon-soo attended a full floor meeting at the National Assembly a move that initially seemed like an attempt at reconciliation. He took the podium, told lawmakers he loved them, making a heart shape with his arms but then doubled down on his criticism of the leadership and again ruled out any merger with Han before Sunday. Take a listen to Kim and the party's interim chair, Kwon Young-se's response. "Even now, the party leadership is using every unlawful and unjust means to remove me and install an independent candidate as our party's nominee." "I won't say much. But if someone wants to be a true leader — a greater leader — they must be willing to let go of themselves." Following those remarks, Kwon abruptly left the meeting. Kim followed soon after. As he exited, several lawmakers tried to persuade him to stay and talk — but Kim pushed his way through, showing just how strained things have become. Now, candidate registration at the National Election Commission opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday. Han Duck-soo says he won't register unless a merger happens beforehand. Kim, meanwhile, accuses the leadership of trying to oust him and has filed for court intervention — asking to block any further PPP convention aimed at replacing him. He insists no merger can happen before the 11th — the registration deadline — while Han says he won't register as an independent at all if there's no agreement. Meanwhile, Do-yeon, what's the latest regarding the survey that the conservative camp has been conducting? That's right, Sun-hee. The party held a two-day vote among registered members, along with a public opinion poll, to decide who should be the PPP's sole nominee. The member vote ended at 4 PM today, and the public poll wrapped up at 1 PM. We're told the results will be tallied within two hours and announced later today. This vote is one of the few moves the leadership pushed forward, despite Kim's strong objections. I'll have the results in a later newscast. Back to you. All right, Do-yeon, thank you for the latest from the conservative camp.

Rain lingers through Saturday in the central region, breezy weekend

2025/05/09 17:00

We've seen a rapid shift in the weather picture lately, and today we faced strong winds and heavy rain across the country. Jeju Island saw harsh weather with powerful waves crashing ashore. While the rain will mostly stop in the southern regions and Jeju by tonight, it's expected to linger in the capital areas until early tomorrow and Gangwon-do could see rain into the afternoon. Daytime highs were 10 degrees lower than yesterday. Temperatures will remain below the norms through the weekend. For a closer look, Seoul and Daejeon wake up to a low of 12 degrees, Daegu and Busan at 14 degrees. Partial sunshine returns to Busan and Jeju with an expected high of 19 degrees, but Seoul only gets up to 15 degrees under cloudy skies. Next week looks to be more promising with wide gaps between lows and highs. That's Korea for you. Here's a look at the international weather conditions.

What palaces offer at night under the moonlight

2025/05/09 17:00

The nights on the royal grounds of palaces here in Seoul are more beautiful than the days. And our Ahn Sung-jin has pictures to prove it. "Promoting harmony" That's what the name of main gate of Changgyeonggung Palace, Honghwamun means. One of the main palaces in Seoul, the Changgyeonggung used to be the living quarters for the royal family during the Joseon dynasty. Though its historical values and beauty shine during the day, once the sun goes down, the palace's roof tiles, or giwa, glisten in the moonlight. Starting from this year, the Moonlight Lotus show at Changgyeonggung Palace has become a regular night tour program. The enchanting media art illuminates Chundangji pond. Scenes of blossoming flowers sparkle on the serene pond backdrop, and petals fall to the sound effect of a water drop. The night tour program encapsulates the palace's scenery through media art facades and revolves around the theme of harmony between tradition and modernity. "I really enjoy it. It's some really good creation with numeric art. It was a surprise because I only came to visit the palace." "I didn't know they were doing this today, but it's so beautiful." "I just came here with my girlfriend, but I'd want to come back again. It'll be a great memory for us." The glass greenhouse resembles a treasure chest floating above the illuminated water surface. "Such programs at night open up the opportunity to soak in the virtue and the beauty of the palace through various visual attractions." "I think one reason why these night tours are so popular is because unlike the bustling daytime view, the night view offers something different, serenity and peacefulness. That's why we want to further expand our programs." Even though night tours will be offered through the entire year, those who want to see the media art facade will have to go before May 18th or wait till September when the program resumes. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Tracing the history of the Joseon Tongsinsa

2025/05/09 17:00

Up next in the third installment of our coverage of an ancient diplomatic mission from Korea to Japan our correspondent Song Yoo-jin takes us to an exhibition that further explores this past art of diplomacy. Do take a look. These paintings offer a glimpse into the original Joseon Tongsinsa missions, depicting the formal procession and the ships that carried the envoys across the sea to Japan. For those curious about how these centuries-old diplomatic journeys helped bridge the two countries, you can step back in time here. "This exhibition, 'Bonds of the Heart, Waves of Resonance,' currently on at the Seoul Museum of History, is the largest-ever held on the Joseon Tongsinsa. It also marks the museum's biggest exhibition since its opening in 2002." More than 100 artifacts from both Korea and Japan are on display, some of them listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. "The Tongsinsa missions were launched after the Imjin War, at a time when Japan was still viewed as a sworn enemy. But Joseon decided to restore diplomatic ties for the peace and stability of its people. Those efforts to rebuild trust is what we've focused on." The three-part exhibition traces the history of the 12 Tongsinsa missions from the 17th to 19th centuries, from their dispatch and sea voyage, to cultural exchanges in Japan, and their return home. "As the missions continued, mutual understanding grew, and many of the artifacts on display, such as the handwritten exchanges and literary works by the envoys, reflect that deepening relationship." That human connection is captured in this painting, collected by the late Korean historian Shin Gi-su. Shin donated over a hundred artifacts related to the Joseon Tongsinsa to the Osaka Museum of History. "This painting shows an everyday interaction. An envoy on horseback is greeted by a Japanese citizen, almost like an autograph signing. While we have many records of formal diplomacy, there's little that shows how ordinary people connected with the envoys." The first part of 'Bonds of the Heart, Waves of Resonance' will close on May 25th. The second and final phase will open on May 27th with new artifacts, until June 29th. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.