News

BTS to make full-group comeback next spring

2025/07/02 11:36

K-pop group BTS will return with a new album featuring all seven members, and begin a world tour next spring. The supergroup announced the news during a live broadcast on the K-pop fan community platform Weverse on Tuesday, adding that they'll start planning their comeback this month. BTS says the new album will be released next spring, along with a world tour to mark the group's return. All seven members of the group have now completed their mandatory military service, and have been discharged as of last month.

[On-point] A week into Israel-Iran peace agreement --will ceasefire hold?

2025/07/02 11:36

It's been a week since the conflict between Israel and Iran ended with a ceasefire brokered by the United States. For more, we're joined by Paik Seunghoon, Researcher at the Institute of Middle East Studies. Thanks for joining us this morning. 1. Will the peace agreement between Israel and Iran continue to hold and forever end the conflict between the two countries? 2. Trump says U.S. strikes obliterated Iran's nuclear sites, but it's still unclear how effective they were. What's your assessment on this? How far has Iran's nuclear program been set back? 3. U.S. government agencies are warning of increased Iranian cyber threats. Could Iran carry out further retaliation in response to the latest U.S. strikes? 4. Trump is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next Monday. What is likely to be discussed, and will the U.S. pressure Israel to reach a deal on Gaza? 5. Has the ceasefire between Israel and Iran opened the door to ending the war in Gaza? Alright, thank you so much for your insight. We appreciate it.

President Lee urges Cabinet members to respect National Assembly

2025/07/02 11:36

President Lee Jae Myung presided over a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He urged officials to respect members of the National Assembly who've been elected by citizens, while also addressing issues related to people's livelihoods. Top Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. "The National Assembly is an institution directly entrusted with power by the people, so I ask our Cabinet members to have a sense of respect for them when you go there. It's about the basic order of the state." President Lee Jae Myung began Tuesday's Cabinet meeting by noting that all power comes from the people, and officials elected by the people come before those who were appointed. He pointed out that there seems to be a "misunderstanding" with parliament, and urged the Cabinet to respect the Assembly. Present at the meeting were some of the Cabinet members from the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration. He went on to pay attention to the livelihoods of the people, particularly the vulnerable, with the nation in the middle of the summer rainy season. "During extreme heat, people living in small rooms, the elderly, and the vulnerable suffer crises. Please pay extra attention and take good care of them." Lee also turned to another matter affecting the lives of Koreans: real estate. He said the stock and financial markets have been recently "normalized," and began to serve as investment options other than the property market, pointing to a tendency in Korea where speculation in real estate often leads to housing market instability. Last week, the nation's financial watchdog announced strict measures to tighten household lending to curb soaring home prices in the capital. Discussions on Tuesday included how to use some of the land left fallow in the border area of Gyeonggi-do Province following the relocation of the U.S. military sites to Pyeongtaek. "President Lee instructed the Defense Ministry to proactively review and report measures to deal with the issues regarding the land returned by the U.S. Forces Korea in northern Gyeonggi-do Province." Among the items endorsed at the Cabinet meeting was an agreement to establish a free trade zone between South Korea and Ecuador, aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

Dangerous heat wave continues to sweep through Europe

2025/07/02 11:35

Europe is seeing dangerous temperatures amid a historic heat wave sweeping the region. Some areas have already reported the hottest June average temperatures, while experts say the heat wave could lead to an excess death of 45-hundred in a four-day span. Lee Seung-jae has more. It's only early July,.. but Europe is suffering from a record-breaking heat wave. A strong high-pressure system is trapping hot air from northern Africa, while higher temperatures on the Mediterranean Sea are reinforcing temperatures over land areas. Countries seeing the worst of the heat wave, include France, Italy, and Spain, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius. Central France reported temperatures as high as 41 degrees, while Spain's southwest region saw mercury readings reach 46 degrees on Saturday. The Portuguese city of Mora rose to 46.6 degrees on Sunday, marking the highest June temperature on record. Amid the heat wave in Europe, the World Health Organization issued a stern warning on Monday, calling for urgent action to prevent "tens of thousands of unnecessary and preventable deaths." According to Marisol Iglesias Gonzalez,.. the technical advisor on climate change and health at the WHO, it's no longer a question of whether there will be a heat wave, but rather,.. how many there will be this year, and how long they'll last. Statistician Pierre Masselot, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, also warned that between June 30th and July 3rd, the heat wave could cause more than 45-hundred excess deaths. He warned that countries likely to record the highest rates of excess deaths are Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Luxembourg, adding that the worst days will likely be Tuesday and Wednesday. And according to the World Meteorological Organization, intense heat waves may become the norm for Europe. "The frequency and intensity of extreme heat events is increasing in Europe and by 2050 about half the European population may be exposed to high or very high risk of heat stress during summer." The heat wave is also raising concerns that the Eiffel Tower may experience deformation of around 20 centimeters. According to French daily Le Parisien on Monday, the steel structure bends slightly from various angles throughout the day due to the movement of the sun. It added that while the intense heat wave may lead to a wider angle of deformation, the tower returns to shape when temperatures cool during nighttime. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Processed food leads steepest inflation rate climb in 5 months

2025/07/02 11:34

Consumer prices in South Korea climbed back to the two percent range in June marking the fastest pace in five months. According to the data released by Statistics Korea, consumer prices in June increased by 2-point-2 percent year-on-year. This was led by processed food prices jumping four-point-six percent for the sharpest increase since late 2023. Bread, coffee, and ham led the gains while the price of ramyeon surged nearly seven percent. Seafood prices also saw a notable climb up seven-point-four percent with officials pointing to global warming and unstable marine conditions. Meanwhile, oil prices edged up zero-point-three percent reflecting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Trump rules out tariff suspension period extension

2025/07/02 11:34

As the clock ticks down on a critical U.S. trade deadline, U.S. President Donald Trump is taking a hard stance, refusing to grant more time for countries under temporary tariff relief. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. With the suspension period on tariffs set to expire soon, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that he has no plans to extend the deadline, and that new trade penalties for some countries may soon take effect. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, he singled out Japan after taking to social media the day before to criticize Tokyo for refusing to import American rice despite facing a domestic shortage. "So what I'm going to do is I'll write them a letter and say, 'we thank you very much and we know you can't do the kind of things that we need and therefore you pay a 30%, 35% or whatever the numbers that we determine,' because we also have a very big trade deficit with Japan " On the other hand, he said a deal to reduce the 26 percent tariff rate for India to "much less" is on the table, after Indian officials extended a visit to the White House last week. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News prior to this statement that the two countries are close to making a deal that lowers levies for both parties. India is one of 57 named countries targeted by country-specific mutual tariffs announced back in April, before they were pushed back for a 90-day negotiation period. During that period, Washington has pushed for talks focused on tariff rates, trade imbalances, and non-tariff barriers. Only the UK has been able to negotiate a limited trade deal with the Trump administration so far, accepting a 10 percent U.S. tariff on certain items in exchange for special access to aircraft engines and British beef. Going forward, the Trump administration is reportedly planning meetings with its trade team to set tariff rates for individual countries as the July 9th deadline approaches. The U.S. Director of the National Economic Council revealed on Monday that the U.S. President will review tariff plans for each country, while Bessent warned that tariffs could remain high for countries that do not cooperate. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Stock

2025/07/01 22:40

2025. 7. 1. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,089.65 ▲17.95 +0.58% KOSDAQ : 783.67 ▲2.17 +0.28% KOSPI200 : 416.26 ▲1.66 +0.40% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 39,986.33 ▼501.06 -1.24% HANG SENG : CLOSED SHANGHAI : 3,457.75 ▲13.32 +0.39% WALL STREET (June 30) DOW JONES : 44,094.77 ▲275.50 +0.63% NASDAQ : 20,369.73 ▲96.27 +0.47% S&P500 : 6,204.95 ▲31.88 +0.52% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,355.90 (+5.90) JPY : 943.96 (+5.84) CNY : 189.33 (+0.77) EUR : 1,597.52 (+13.97)

S. Korea posts highest exports for June in history

2025/07/01 22:40

South Korea's exports made a rebound last month, in fact, posting the highest figures for any June in history, thanks to brisk chip and car shipments. Our Park Jun-han leads us off tonight. Exports in June reached an all-time high of 59-point-8 billion U.S. dollars, up 4-point-3 percent from a year earlier, according to data released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports rose 3-point-3 percent to 50-point-72 billion dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of 9-point-08 billion dollars. Among the country's 15 major export items, six showed growth. Notably, semiconductors fueled this, marking a historic 15 billion dollars in June — up 11-point-6 percent — and continuing a four-month upward trend. This helped overseas shipments of semiconductors reach 73-point-3 billion dollars for the first half of 2025, the highest-ever performance over that period. "Previously, market demand for semiconductors was driven by mobile devices, but it has now shifted to AI and data centers. Strong memory sales — particularly high-bandwidth memory — and a surge in AI data center investment are the fundamental drivers behind the recent growth in semiconductor exports." Automobile shipments also hit an all-time high for June at 6-point-3 billion dollars, marking a 2-point-3 percent increase from a year earlier. Robust deliveries were driven by high EU demand for electric vehicles, and a whopping 67-point-9 percent surge in used car exports to 670 million dollars. By region, June exports saw growth in seven of its nine major trading regions, excluding the United States and China. Although exports to the United States and China saw a slight decrease of point-5 percent and 2-point-7 percent , respectively, exports to regions such as the European Union and the Middle East saw a significant increase of over at least 14 percent. The economic expert stated that the drop in exports to the United States and China reflects a shift in the global trading order. "The drop in exports after Trump's tariff hikes is a major setback, especially since exports were expected to rise. South Korea exports intermediate goods to China, which China then ships as final products to the U.S., so tariffs on China hit us too. As existing markets shrink, we naturally look for new ones — leading to a shift in the trading order, with more exports heading outside the U.S. and China." In the meantime, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun said the government plans to respond proactively to the immediate challenges in the Korea-U.S. negotiations and will soon prepare export support measures — such as trade financing and the identification of alternative markets — to minimize the negative impact on industries. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

[Weather] Heat wave warnings around the country with high UV rays

2025/07/01 22:39

Seoul has recorded two consecutive tropical nights now. It felt as hot as 32 degrees Celsius during the day today. Not only in Seoul, heat wave warnings and advisories were issued in most parts of the country. The daytime temperature in Samcheok and Gyeongju rose up to 36 degrees during the day. This heat wave will continue tomorrow. In addition, we need to prepare for strong UV rays. High levels of ultraviolet rays will cover the skies around the country. Around the eastern and southern parts of the country, very high levels of UV rays will continue tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow morning will be even hotter than today at around 24 to 26 degrees. Highs will move up to 32 degrees in Daejeon, 35 degrees in Daegu and Gyeongju. No rain is expected for the time being. Please take good care of your health. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

At least 74 killed in Gaza after Israeli forces strike, Netanyahu to visit White House

2025/07/01 22:38

After mediating the Israel-Iran ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump is now looking to put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the Gaza war by inviting him to the White House next week. Byeon Ye-young has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next Monday, as Washington ramps up efforts to end the war in Gaza. Unnamed U.S. officials confirmed the visit, which comes amid a renewed push to broker a ceasefire. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a briefing on Monday, reaffirmed the administration's commitment to ending the conflict. "I also know that this administration is in constant communication with Israeli leadership, and the president himself speaks frequently, as you know, to Prime Minister Netanyahu. But this has been a priority for the president since he took office, to end this brutal war in Gaza." Netanyahu's upcoming visit comes as the U.S., after striking Iranian nuclear sites and brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, shifts focus to ending the Israel-Hamas conflict. On the same day, according to AP News, Israeli forces left at least 74 people dead in Gaza. The deadliest attack targeted a beachfront café crowded with women and children. It was one of the few remaining places during the war where civilians could charge their phones and access the Internet. "An F-16 missile, a war missile, military aircraft, not a drone or a bomb or a shell from a boat. The F-16 shook the place, it struck this place as you can see, pools of blood, piles of martyrs. I mean, if you had seen the scene from the beginning, there were piles of martyrs." Fares Awad, a Gaza health ministry official, said at least 30 were killed and dozens injured in the café strike. Local medical officials reported 15 more deaths on a Gaza City street, six in a separate building strike, 11 civilians shot while searching for food, and 10 killed at a UN aid warehouse. While Israel maintains it only targets militants, Gaza's Health Ministry reports that more than 56-thousand Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed since the war began. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

Seoul sees second straight 'tropical night,' as it continues to battle heat waves

2025/07/01 22:37

It's rainy season, but with heavy monsoon downpours taking a break, sweltering heat is on the rise. Seoul has seen its second straight tropical night of the season, while a heat wave advisory remains in effect. Shin Ha-young reports. South Korea continues to face heat waves and tropical nights. As of Tuesday, most parts of the country, including Seoul, were under heat advisories. The capital saw the season's first heat wave advisory being issued on Monday, just a day after it experienced its first tropical night of the summer. Monday night's temperature stayed above 25 degrees Celsius, marking the second consecutive tropical night. A heat advisory is issued when the day's highest perceived temperature is expected to stay at 33 degrees Celsius or above for two or more days. However, Seoul's heat wave advisory came 11 days later than last year. Still, the sweltering heat is expected to remain not just in Seoul, but nationwide. "As the hot and humid North Pacific high-pressure area covers our country, a large amount of hot and humid water vapor is flowing in along its edge." The Korea Meteorological Administration raised the advisories to heat warnings on Tuesday, in regions including parts of Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Jeollanam-do provinces. A heat wave warning is issued when the highest perceived temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees or higher for two or more consecutive days, or when major damage is expected from the heat. The sweltering heat is hitting the entire country, breaking June temperature records in many areas. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Tuesday, Busan recorded an average daily temperature of 26-point-2 degrees Celsius on Monday, the hottest day in June since records began in April 1904. Daegu also saw its hottest June day on record, with an average daily temperature of 30-point-7 degrees Celsius the highest since records began in January 1907. The intense heat also led to the death of a woman in her 60s, who had been working in a field in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. She was found unresponsive on Sunday afternoon, with police saying they believe she died of heatstroke. The KMA advises vulnerable groups, including the elderly and children, to take extra care to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Politics & Diplomacy] Lee Jae Myung's 1st month of 'Pragmatic Diplomacy': Progress & challenges ahead

2025/07/01 22:36

It's been one month since President Lee Jae Myung took office. It's still early days, but we zoom in on the course of his foreign affairs and security policies, which he has defined as "pragmatic diplomacy." For this, we have our Oh Soo-young in the studio. 1. First, how would you summarise the first month of Lee's pragmatic diplomacy? From my perspective, there has been an interesting mix of both continuity and change from the previous administration. In being pragmatic, the Lee government has clearly kept Seoul's global diplomacy intact at its first multilateral summit at the G7. Holding at least ten individual summits with world leaders,.. his focus there was reinforcing South Korea's position in the international community as a vibrant democratic partner, after six months of a leadership vacuum following President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law crisis last year. There's continuity in South Korea's strategic relationships, too. His first phone calls with world leaders were made in order of: the U.S., Japan, and then China. That mirrors the previous Yoon administration's priorities, emphasising the South Korea–U.S. alliance and a future-oriented partnership with Tokyo. That's been surprising given how past progressive leaders have shown more affinity towards China than Japan, emphasising historical disputes with the latter. Now, where there's been some recalibration is when it comes to values. The former Yoon administration endorsed liberal democratic values as the basis for cooperation but the new Lee administration has indicated it will focus on what serves Korean interests, not necessarily values. That includes diversifying its cooperation and working with China and Russia, avoiding bloc-based alignment. On North Korea, Lee's strategy is clearly geared towards lowering tensions. Even in the first month of his presidency, he decided to withhold psychological warfare tactics like loudspeaker broadcasts, and crack down on South Korean groups sending anti-North Korea flyers over the border. It's a sharp contrast to the tit-for-tat escalation under the previous administration. Q2. And his top policymakers will initiate his pragmatic diplomacy. Let's turn to his ministerial nominees for key diplomatic and security positions. What does his selection of ministers indicate? The President's selections for the ministers of foreign affairs, unification, and defense represent a decisive pivot toward institutional experience and peace, rather than deterrence, towards North Korea. Foreign Minister nominee Cho Hyun is a career diplomat with decades of experience in multilateral diplomacy. He emphasized the importance of diversifying Korea's diplomatic interests. Speaking during an interview, Cho said it was time to move beyond what he called "the stereotype that diplomacy begins and ends with the United States." At the same time, he acknowledged America's centrality in building peace with North Korea, saying achieving U.S.–North Korea dialogue and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula is one of the Administration's top priorities. The nominee for Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, is also no stranger to the inter-Korean agenda. He held the same position under President Roh Moo-hyun and played a central role in organizing the 2007 inter-Korean summit. He said he supports U.S.–North Korea talks, noting that "they help ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and contribute to peace and stability." He's made headlines by suggesting that the very name "Ministry of Unification" may be outdated and the ministry should shift its emphasis away from symbolic unification rhetoric and instead focus on concrete goals like humanitarian cooperation and sustainable coexistence. Now, a particularly significant appointment is Ahn Gyu-back as Defense Ministerthe first civilian to hold the post in more than six decades. His nomination represents democratic oversight of the military, particularly after the martial law crisis last year, as well as reform to better support armed forces amid sharp technological and geopolitical changes. He's also emphasised the need for a peaceful overture between the South and North to create the mood for military tensions to be eased. Q3. Is the Korea–U.S. summit still expected in late July — and what are the stakes? Yes, officials from both governments confirm that a summit in Washington is being arranged most likely for the week of July 21st. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is widely expected to stop by earlier in July to finalise the grounds. These three issues are likely to dominate their talks: America's tariffs on South Korea's foremost industrial goods especially with Washington ending its grace period next Wednesday. Also, defence spending, as the U.S. calls on allies to pay more towards their security, and even cover areas outside their cost-sharing agreement, such as the deployment of U.S. tactical assets. Another issue could possibly be North Korea, as Lee moves to lower tensions and Trump signals interest in resuming engagement with the North. Lee and Trump were originally expected to meet during the G7 Summit in Canada last month, but that meeting did not take place as Trump left early amid the Israel-Iran conflict. The upcoming summit will be a major test of how the Lee administration balances alliance management with national interest. So the first high-stakes meeting for Lee's pragmatic diplomacy. Let's see what happens later this month. Thanks Soo-young for coming in today.

First Lady Kim attends opening of 4th Women Entrepreneurs Week

2025/07/01 22:35

First Lady Kim Hea Kyung on Tuesday attended the opening ceremony of the fourth edition of Women Entrepreneurs Week. There, she expressed hope that women in business, who've played a key role in supporting the domestic economy, will help lead the country through challenges. According to the Presidential Office, the First Lady met with female entrepreneurs to offer encouragement and presented government awards to exemplary businesswomen. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups hosts the event each year during the first week of July to recognize outstanding contributions by women-led businesses. This year's program runs through Friday.

President Lee speaks with UAE, New Zealand leaders on economic cooperation

2025/07/01 22:35

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung spoke over the phone with his UAE counterpart, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday, for the first time since taking office last month. President Lee expressed hopes to bolster the "special strategic partnership" between Korea and the UAE. The leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on AI, cutting-edge technology, the defense industry, and nuclear power. He also held a phone call with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to discuss elevating their "comprehensive strategic partnership." Noting New Zealand's contribution during the Korean War, Lee hoped to bolster cooperation with that country in the economic, defense, and science sectors. Lee also discussed with the foreign leaders further cooperation in time for the upcoming APEC summit in Korea later this year.

President Lee urges Cabinet members to respect National Assembly

2025/07/01 22:34

President Lee Jae Myung presided over the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. There, he urged the Cabinet members to respect members of the National Assembly who've been elected by the people. Also addressed were a host of issues related to people's livelihoods. Top Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. "The National Assembly is an institution directly entrusted with power by the people, so I ask our Cabinet members to have a sense of respect for them when you go there. It's about the basic order of the state." President Lee Jae Myung began Tuesday's Cabinet meeting by noting that all power comes from the people, and officials elected by the people come before those who were appointed. He pointed out that there seems to be a "misunderstanding" with parliament, and urged the Cabinet to respect the Assembly. Present at the meeting were some of the Cabinet members from the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration. He went on to pay attention to the livelihoods of the people, particularly the vulnerable, with the nation in the middle of the summer rainy season. "During extreme heat, people living in small rooms, the elderly, and the vulnerable suffer crises. Please pay extra attention and take good care of them." Lee also turned to another matter affecting the lives of Koreans: real estate. He said the stock and financial markets have been recently "normalized," and began to serve as investment options other than the property market, pointing to a tendency in Korea where speculation in real estate often leads to housing market instability. Last week, the nation's financial watchdog announced strict measures to tighten household lending to curb soaring home prices in the capital. Discussions on Tuesday included how to use some of the land left fallow in the border area of Gyeonggi-do Province following the relocation of the U.S. military sites to Pyeongtaek. "President Lee instructed the Defense Ministry to proactively review and report measures to deal with the issues regarding the land returned by the U.S. Forces Korea in northern Gyeonggi-do Province." Among the items endorsed at the Cabinet meeting was an agreement to establish a free trade zone between South Korea and Ecuador, aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

S. Korea braces for U.S. tariffs with automakers exposed the most

2025/07/01 22:34

The record-high export figures from June are a relief for now, but chip and car exports the backbone of South Korea's economy may soon be challenged following the end of the Trump administration's tariffs grace period. So, how to brace for the potential impact? Our Kim Do-yeon reports. The stakes couldn't be higher, as South Korea's heavy dependence on exports — especially to the United States — leaves its core industries vulnerable. With a July 8th deadline fast approaching, Seoul is racing to secure a deal that shields its automakers and semiconductor producers from hefty new tariffs. "I believe Korea needs to emphasize that its economic growth leads to more factories and jobs being created in the United States, and use that to steer negotiations in a direction that benefits both countries." Recent moves by Hyundai Motor Group underscore that point, with the company pledging over 21 billion dollars in investments across the U.S. over the next three years. The move perhaps testifies to experts' claims that autos are the most exposed. Under Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act, Washington currently slaps a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles and auto parts — a duty both Korea and Japan have been pushing to reduce. "Among all the tariffs Korea faces from the U.S. right now, the most critical issue is the auto sector. If this isn't resolved, we're likely to see significant damage — not just for finished cars, but also for parts, steel and aluminum, since all these tariffs are heavily concentrated on automobiles." Without a breakthrough, Korea's automakers and a web of suppliers could suffer severe losses. Some experts suggest that ramping up local manufacturing in the U.S. may be the most immediate way to cushion the blow. "By using production facilities over there, we can effectively offset tariffs on parts as well. So at this point, I think expanding and maximizing manufacturing operations in the U.S., rather than producing everything domestically, is actually the best alternative we have." But they caution this could mean fewer jobs and contracts for Korea's own factories and parts makers. That's why experts say tariffs will ultimately need to be tackled at the negotiating table. They point out that South Korea's shipbuilding capacity could serve as leverage — while even adjustments to defense cost-sharing might come into play. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

President Lee’s first month: Lee governs through citizen-centered reforms

2025/07/01 21:34

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. This Thursday marks President Lee Jae Myung's 30th day in office. One month in, he's setting a notably open tone for the presidency. From declaring himself the "president for all" to rolling out the People's Nomination System and launching the People's Mailbox, President Lee has placed citizen engagement at the heart of his early governance. With emergency economic measures also underway, his administration is signaling speed, visibility, and direct response. But as these symbolic moves begin to meet institutional reality, the question now is whether this participatory model can truly take root—and what it means for the future of Korean democracy. In our first installment marking one month of the Lee Jae Myung presidency, we take a closer look at Lee's style of governance—how it's unfolding, what it promises, and where it may be headed. For this, we're joined in the studio by Kim Jun-mo, Professor at the Department of Public Administration at Konkuk University. Welcome. Also joining us is Lee Hee-eun, Dean and Professor of Law at Handong International Law School. Welcome. (KIM) First, let's go back to President Lee's inaugural promise – he declared himself the "president for all" and vowed to break with divisive politics. Prof. Kim, how would you evaluate the administrative and symbolic weight of that statement? (KIM) Then came the "People's Nomination System" where citizens could recommend top officials, such as ministers. From a public administration view, how feasible and effective is this in real personnel vetting and selection? (LEE) From a legal standpoint, the system promised transparency and fairness. But under current laws governing presidential appointments, how binding are these public-sourced recommendations, and where do legal constraints begin? (KIM) Soon after, the President launched the "People's Mailbox," where citizens can directly submit questions online. The presidential office says all submissions are reported to President Lee, and he'll personally respond to significant ones. As a public participation tool, how would you assess its real potential to shape governance, beyond symbolism? (LEE) That platform replaced the previous public petition board. From a constitutional rights perspective, does this more filtered model still respect citizens' right to petition and the need for transparent dialogue? (KIM) Just days later, President Lee held a town hall meeting in Gwangju, personally listening to local concerns like the stalled military airport relocation. Could this be a model for localized, citizen-driven governance moving forward? (LEE) Staying with the Gwangju initiative – President Lee ordered a six-party government-local task force to mediate the airport dispute. Legally speaking, how clear is the framework for such ad-hoc coordination bodies, and could there be risks of jurisdictional overreach? (LEE) President Lee says this is a move toward "citizen-sovereignty" and away from ideology-based politics. Constitutionally speaking, is this kind of pragmatic presidency compatible with Korea's legal-political system? (KIM) Finally, looking back on this first month – President Lee has repeatedly framed his presidency as a turning point for "real democracy" and "citizen-centered governance." In practical terms, what does that look like? And what signs should we watch for in the months ahead?

S. Korea posts highest exports for June in history

2025/07/01 19:41

We start on the trade front as findings for the month of June show exports hitting an all-time high for the month driven by cars and chips. Our correspondent Park Jun-han reports. Exports in June reached an all-time high of 59-point-8 billion U.S. dollars, up 4-point-3 percent from a year earlier, according to data released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports rose 3-point-3 percent to 50-point-72 billion dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of 9-point-08 billion dollars. Among the country's 15 major export items, six showed growth. Notably, semiconductors fueled this, marking a historic 15 billion dollars in June — up 11-point-6 percent — and continuing a four-month upward trend. This helped overseas shipments of semiconductors reach 73-point-3 billion dollars for the first half of 2025, the highest-ever performance over that period. "Previously, market demand for semiconductors was driven by mobile devices, but it has now shifted to AI and data centers. Strong memory sales — particularly high-bandwidth memory — and a surge in AI data center investment are the fundamental drivers behind the recent growth in semiconductor exports." Automobile shipments also hit an all-time high for June at 6-point-3 billion dollars, marking a 2-point-3 percent increase from a year earlier. Robust deliveries were driven by high EU demand for electric vehicles, and a whopping 67-point-9 percent surge in used car exports to 670 million dollars. By region, June exports saw growth in seven of its nine major trading regions, excluding the United States and China. Although exports to the United States and China saw a slight decrease of point-5 percent and 2-point-7 percent , respectively, exports to regions such as the European Union and the Middle East saw a significant increase of over at least 14 percent. The economic expert stated that the drop in exports to the United States and China reflects a shift in the global trading order. "The drop in exports after Trump's tariff hikes is a major setback, especially since exports were expected to rise. South Korea exports intermediate goods to China, which China then ships as final products to the U.S., so tariffs on China hit us too. As existing markets shrink, we naturally look for new ones — leading to a shift in the trading order, with more exports heading outside the U.S. and China." In the meantime, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun said the government plans to respond proactively to the immediate challenges in the Korea-U.S. negotiations and will soon prepare export support measures — such as trade financing and the identification of alternative markets — to minimize the negative impact on industries. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Weather] Heat wave will continue across the country with high UV rays

2025/07/01 19:40

It's a hot day and night across the country. Seoul has had tropical nights for two straight days, and heat wave warnings are continuing. Under heat wave warnings and advisories, summer heat of over 35 degrees Celsius warmed up the whole country. The daytime temperature in Samcheok and Gyeongju rose as high as 36 degrees during the day today. With steaming conditions, strong UV rays are inevitable. High levels of ultraviolet rays will cover the skies around the country. Around the eastern and southern parts of the country, very high levels of UV rays will continue tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow morning will be even hotter than today at around 24 to 26 degrees. Highs will move up to 31 degrees in Seoul, Chuncheon, Busan and Jeju. There is no rain forecast for the time being. Please take good care of your health. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Firefighters battle to contain wildfires in western Türkiye for second day

2025/07/01 19:40

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Western Türkiye is battling massive wildfires driven by extreme heat and strong winds, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate from five regions across the country. Wildfires in Izmir province are entering their third day, fueled by scorching temperatures and winds reaching 40 to 50 kilometers per hour. The province's airport was briefly closed, and over 50-thousand residents from 41 settlements have been evacuated. More than 1,000 personnel are involved in firefighting efforts; however, dense smoke and strong winds are hampering aerial extinguishing efforts. Türkiye's Forestry Minister warned that the situation may worsen without a drop in temperature and wind speeds. Emergency services remain on alert, with resources being shifted to vulnerable coastal areas. The blazes form a part of a wider Western Europe heatwave, with temperatures across the region running 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal norms. Denmark's parliament has approved extending its compulsory conscription to women starting July 1, placing them on equal footing with men in the national draft lottery. Until now, only male citizens were subject to mandatory service, whereas women could join voluntarily. The reform brings forward plans originally set for 2027, due to security concerns amid Russian aggression and NATO defense commitments. Under the new policy, all women turning 18 after June 30 will enter the draft pool of the lottery system alongside men. Denmark plans to increase its annual number of conscripts from 4,700 to 6,500 by 2033. Service duration is also being extended from four to eleven months. In the U.S., the annual T-Rex World Championship races were held at Emerald Downs racecourse in Washington State on Sunday, where more than 300 people competed dressed as Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs. The championship includes the men's, women's and children's races. Some participants also parachuted onto the tracks while dressed as dinos. The races will be shown in full on ESPN2 later this summer. The event began in 2017 as a team-building activity for a pest control company. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.