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Mexico begins cleanup after Hurricane Erick hits southern coast

2025/06/20 10:00

Communities along Mexico's southern Pacific coast are working to recover after Hurricane Erick made landfall, battering Oaxaca and Guerrero with heavy rainfall and flooding. Erick reached the southern Mexican coast early Thursday as a Category 3 hurricane with 205 kilometers per hour winds, then weakened as it moved inland. The storm brought torrential rain, reaching up to 41 centimeters in parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, triggering widespread flash floods and landslides in the mountainous zones. Streets in the tourist town of Puerto Escondido are filled with debris, and power lines are down. Around 2,000 temporary shelters were set up in the states of Chiapas , Guerrero, and Oaxaca for those who have left their homes. President Claudia Sheinbaum had urged people to stay home and advised those living in 저지대 or near rivers to seek shelter. No fatalities or injuries have been reported. While cleanup and restoration are underway, Erick is expected to weaken further and dissipate by late Thursday or early Friday.

Current, fmr. Japanese PMs attend Tokyo event marking 60 years of normalizing S. Korea-Japan relations

2025/06/20 10:00

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called on Korea and Japan to take a new step forward to an "even brighter future," as he marked 60 years of normalising bilateral relations. This came at a reception hosted by the Korean Embassy in Tokyo, following a gathering hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Seoul earlier this week. Around a thousand people attended notably, two former Japanese Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida, and South Korea's Deputy National Assembly Speaker Joo Ho-young. Following his (quote) "very productive discussion" with President Lee Jae-myung this week at the G7 in Canada, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed hope for further development of ties, saying there are many areas for cooperation.

Producer prices fall 0.4% in May as melon, onion prices plunge

2025/06/20 10:00

South Korea's producer prices saw the sharpest drop in a year and a half last month. According to the Bank of Korea on Friday, the Producer Price Index came at 119-point-6-6 in May, down zero-point-4 percent on-month. It marked a second straight month of decline, and the biggest drop since November 2023. By category, prices for agricultural, forestry, and fishery goods dropped 4-point-4 percent, while industrial goods fell zero-point-6 percent. Among the steepest declines, Korean melons were down over 50 percent, onions, down 43, and diesel prices were nearly 6 percent lower. The central bank attributed the fall to improved weather, which boosted supply and drove down producer prices for fruits and vegetables.

President Lee says it's time for gov't to spend: 20.2 trillion KRW supplementary bill explained

2025/06/20 10:00

S. Korea evacuates nationals amid growing military clashes in Iran, Israel

2025/06/20 10:00

South Korean nationals have been evacuated from both Iran and Israel as military clashes between the two countries escalate for a seventh day. Seoul's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that 34 Korean nationals and family members in Iran have crossed over to Turkmenistan as of Thursday. The first group departed Tehran on Tuesday, traveling for around 30 hours, over some 12 hundred kilometers on a bus provided by the Korean government. They entered Turkmenistan on Wednesday, and a second group arrived the next day. Meanwhile, 25 Koreans and one Israeli family member were evacuated from Israel to Jordan on June 19th. Roughly 460 South Korean nationals remain in Israel, and about 90 in Iran.

[On-point] What to expect as Trump keeps world guessing about U.S. involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

2025/06/20 10:00

Tensions are escalating between Israel and Iran, after President Trump called for Tehran's "unconditional surrender," but Iran vowed to continue to fight. For more on how the situation in the Middle East will unfold, we're joined by Dr. Robert Lawrence, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Middle East and African Affairs. Dr. Lawrence, thanks for joining us this morning. 1. Why did Israel attack Iran just days before U.S. and Iranian negotiators were set to meet for nuclear talks? What's behind Israel's decision? 2. How likely is U.S. involvement in the war? And if it does join, what might that look like? 3. Trump also says the deal with Iran "could still happen." Is Iran likely to engage in negotiations anytime soon? 4. Trump claims Iran was "weeks away" from having nuclear weapons. In your view, how close is Iran to getting a nuclear weapon? 5. The fighting can't go on forever. How might the conflict end --and when? Alright, Dr. Lawrence, thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

Pres. Lee unveils online "public communication platform" for direct democracy

2025/06/20 10:00

President Lee Jae Myung has unveiled an online platform where people can directly propose policy ideas. Taking to his Facebook account on Thursday, he said he hoped it could help realize the principle of people's sovereignty stated in the Constitution and serve as a platform for "direct democracy." He asked the public to feel free to pitch their ideas on all areas that affect their lives, from the economy, social issues, diplomacy to culture, as he vowed to thoroughly review them in order for them to materialize. He also asked the public to give proposals to officially name the platform. More details can be found on the website.

U.S. monitoring situation in close contact with S. Korea after N.Korean artillery launches

2025/06/20 10:00

Washington says it's monitoring North Korea-related developments in close contact with Seoul, after Pyongyang fired around 10 artillery rounds earlier this week. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the Trump administration is in close contact with the new South Korean government, adding that the two allies are working together to deter "adversaries and preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific." She added that U.S. President Donald Trump will not tolerate threats against American interests "on his watch." The comments come as the regime fired shells towards the West Sea on Thursday morning from the Sunan area near Pyongyang.

Stock

2025/06/19 20:00

2025. 6. 19. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,977.74 ▲5.55 +0.19% KOSDAQ : 782.51 ▲2.78 +0.36% KOSPI200 : 399.29 ▲0.43 +0.11% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,488.34 ▼396.81 -1.02% HANG SENG : 23,237.74 ▼472.95 -1.99% SHANGHAI : 3,362.11 ▼26.70 -0.79% WALL STREET (June 18) DOW JONES : 42,171.66 ▼44.14 -0.10% NASDAQ : 19,546.27 ▲25.18 +0.13% S&P500 : 5,980.87 ▼1.85 -0.03% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,380.20 (+10.80) JPY : 950.26 (+5.49) CNY : 191.85 (+1.34) EUR : 1,580.67 (+3.87)

President Lee says it's time for gov't to spend: 20.2 trillion KRW spending supplementary bill explained

2025/06/19 20:00

South Korea has drawn up its first extra budget under the brand new government with the ultimate goal of stimulating economic recovery. The budget also includes cash handouts to all citizens. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon starts us off. The second round of a supplementary budget bill this year, the first of its kind under Lee Jae Myung's presidency, has been drafted and is set to go to the National Assembly next week. President Lee, presiding over a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, took a final look. The size of this supplementary budget is 30.5 trillion Korean won, or a bit more than 22 billion U.S. dollars. 15.2 trillion of that will be going into boosting the economy through stimulus. 5 trillion will be going to stabilizing people's livelihoods. 10.3 will be for revenue adjustment, for the nation's fiscal situation. This means, 20.2 trillion will be for direct spending by the government with 19.8 trillion being debt. Going into the details 15.2 trillion for economic stimulus will consist of 10.3 trillion of that being cash relief to everyone, in a different form of the recipient's choosing. 1 trillion will go into boosting discounts and other needed aspects. 2.7 trillion will go into support for the construction sector as it's currently one of the hardest hit industries with close links to the employment of working-class citizens. President Lee has been pushing for cash relief to everyone for some time now, since his lawmaker days. The conservative government had been saying a universal payout is not right due to the financial pressure on the nation's fiscal status, and selective support is better. This draft did go with a universal payout but for those who need it, the more they will receive. The top 10-percent, approximately 5.12 million people, will receive a one-time payment of 150,000 Korean won, or around a 100 U.S. dollars. And the biggest group of citizens of around 43 million people will receive the first payment of 150,000 Korean won, but will get an additional 100,000 in the second round. The lower levels will receive more in first-time payments, with the social welfare recipients later getting 500,000 in total As for stabilizing livelihoods, money will be spent on debt relief for small businesses as well as boosting employment and taming inflation. Now, the ball is in the National Assembly's court with the government's draft being transferred on the 23rd. Lawmakers will be reviewing the bill, but with the ruling Democratic Party holding the majority on the floor, the bill won't face many obstacles. Now we have our Kim Do-yeon in the studio to give us more details on this supplementary budget bill. Do-yeon, so the spending vouchers for everyone as you mentioned, had been a hot topic for the nation as it affects every Korean national. Right, Dami. It's something as I've said in my report that President Lee has been pushing for since his opposition leader days. And, as we heard, he believes strongly in the government spending more during these hard times with benefits going to everyone. Also, this is to boost domestic spending. One thing to clarify is that it's not in the form of cash. It's spending vouchers. So there are three ways to receive them. Local district vouchers, a prepaid check card, or directly to your credit or check card. Now, it will be to boost domestic spending, so it's not for those who are going to travel abroad. Also, while the specifics aren't yet set, they're going to have an expiration date. So far, the government has said four months, but that detail will be decided at the National Assembly. On top of this, there will be other discounts to make sure people spend more in Korea. "We aim to achieve both goals: providing swift support through phased payments and tailoring assistance based on income levels. An additional 600 billion won will also be allocated for local gift certificates, bringing the total issuance to a record-high 29 trillion won. The discount rate when purchasing these certificates will also be raised—from a maximum of 10 percent to 15 percent." Now, let's focus on the government's financial status. Some people may be worried about the additional debt. What does the government have to say about that? The government did admit that the debt had risen, and the fiscal balance rose. But take a listen to the 2nd Vice Minister for Economy and Finance. "However, looking at past cases and international comparisons, we don’t see the current level as posing a serious risk just yet. Efforts to ensure fiscal sustainability will continue in parallel." The government says it tried to be careful with the financing for this supplementary budget. It secured 5.3 trillion won by reshuffling spending priorities and another 5.5 trillion won by tapping into available funds and adjusting how much will be issued in foreign exchange bonds. That allowed them to keep additional bond issuance to 19.8 trillion won—minimizing the burden on taxpayers. Still, despite those efforts, the fiscal deficit widened from 3.3% to 4.2% of GDP, and the national debt ratio also inched up. But the Finance Ministry argues that what's more important right now is responding to urgent economic needs.

[Weather] Rainy season starts across the country, heavy rain is forecast

2025/06/19 20:00

The heat is at its peak today. The daytime temperature in Seoul rose up to 33 degrees Celsius, Wonju, Cheongju, and Gyeongju 34 degrees, which is even higher than at the same time yesterday. Rain will spread to the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheongbuk-do province, and Jeollanam-do Province tonight and spread all over the country tomorrow. Heavy rain of up to 150 millimeters is expected in northern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, Gangwon-do Province, Chungcheongnam-do Province, and Jeollabuk-do Province, and 120 millimeters or more in other Seoul metropolitan area. Tomorrow morning will start warm at around 22 to 23 degrees all over the country. Daily highs will move up to 25 degrees in Seoul, Chuncheon and Busan, 28 degrees in Jeju. Rain in the central parts of the country will gradually stop on Saturday, but this rainy season will continue in the south for the time being. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

More than 200 overseas Korean teens in the search for their Korean heritage

2025/06/19 20:00

Meanwhile Young overseas Koreans are taking part in a special program here aimed at offering them the opportunity to delve into their roots. Ahn Sung-jin has this story. 7.5 million. That's how many overseas Koreans there are. Gathered here are around 240 next-generation overseas Koreans aged 15 to 18. This teen camp, hosted by the Overseas Korean Agency and organized by the Overseas Koreans Cooperation Center, has participants from 26 countries. "For these students, by visiting their parents' country, they can really feel their Korean heritage. Our ultimate goal is to increase the budget for such programs so we can invite more participants." Especially as 2025 is the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation, these students are delving into learning about their history and roots. "Programs like these offer the opportunity for overseas Koreans to experience Korea's history, culture and society while helping them build connections with young people in the country. For some, the 7-day program starts with a visit to Seodaemun Prison History Hall, which gives them a chance to understand Japan's colonial era and reflect on their background. For 15-year-old Sofiya, this was an opportunity to fulfill her interest and ties with her Korean roots. "My grandmother was born in Korea, but it so happened that they were deported in train cars to Kazakhstan just in the cold they were thrown like that. They started working at coal mines, and life began to improve for them. It's my first time in Korea, but I really like it here, and I will definitely come again in the future and maybe study here." And at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, students look back at the country's past to strengthen ties and raise awareness of their Korean identity. "I know one of my great-grandfathers on my mom's side was a war veteran in the Korean military. I feel like this shows courage, which is often shown throughout my family. That's why I wanted to come to Korea." This program for the summer will run until August, not only for teens but also for those aged up to 24 as well to foster overseas Koreans as global leaders who embrace and uphold their Korean heritage. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

New U.S. visa policy adds social media screening for foreign students

2025/06/19 20:00

The U.S. State Department says it's restarting student visa applications for foreigners but under the condition that all applicants make their social media accounts public for review. Lee Eun-hee reports. The U.S. State Department is resuming the process for foreign nationals applying for student visas, following a temporary suspension last month. But according to a statement released Wednesday, applicants will now be required to provide information about their social media profiles. All applicants will be asked to set the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to public. New guidance directs U.S. diplomats to look for "any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States." Failure to comply may be seen as an attempt to evade screening or as an effort to conceal online activity. This policy applies to students and other applicants for visas in the F, M, and J categories, which refer to academic and vocational education, as well as cultural exchanges. The temporary pause in visa interview scheduling last month was prompted by the U.S. evaluating new social media vetting procedures, leaving students worldwide anxious. The New York Times commented that the guidelines' "vague parameters will no doubt create much uncertainty among American universities and students and scholars overseas who intend to travel to the United States." It also wrote that critics say such a process and other related actions by Secretary of State Marco Rubio are aimed at limiting free speech, enforcing certain beliefs, and pressuring foreign citizens to censor themselves and refrain from criticizing the Trump administration. Meanwhile, according to a senior state department official, the Trump administration is working to make America safer, acting on citizen expectations, and that Marco Rubio was "helping to make America and its universities safer while bringing the state Department into the 21st century." Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

U.S. Federal Reserve keeps rates steady amid tariff uncertainty

2025/06/19 20:00

Federal Reserve officials held onto their key interest rate yet again on Wednesday, but they still foresee two rate cuts by the end of the year. Moon Ji-young tells us more. The U.S. Federal Reserve kept its key rate unchanged for the fourth straight meeting Wednesday and lowered the country's economic growth outlook. This keeps the rate in the 4-point-two-five to 4-point-five percent range and marks the fourth consecutive rate freeze since Trump took office, despite pressure to make cuts. "What we're waiting for to reduce rates is to understand what will happen with, really, the tariff inflation. And there's a lot of uncertainty about that." So far, inflation has remained relatively tame, near the Fed's target of 2 percent. However, economists warn it may take months for the effects of tariffs to be felt. Inflation has also seen recent upward pressure from rising oil prices driven by the conflict between Israel and Iran. However, Fed officials still foresee two interest rate cuts by the end of this year, the same as they projected in March. The central bank's latest quarterly projections show noticeably weaker growth, higher inflation, and slightly higher unemployment by the end of this year, than it had forecast in March. For this year, Fed officials expect inflation to rise to 3 percent, unemployment to increase to 4-point-5 percent, and growth to slow to 1-point-4 percent. The Fed also projects GDP to grow by 1-point-4 percent in 2025, down from 1-point-7 percent projected in March. "Following growth of 2.5% last year, GDP was reported to have edged down in the first quarter, reflecting swings in net exports that were driven by businesses bringing in imports ahead of potential tariffs." President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Powell for not cutting rates, increasing pressure on the central bank. But the Fed Chairman dismissed criticism, saying "we're in a good place." Meanwhile, this week's decision puts the benchmark rate gap between South Korea and the U.S. at up to 2 percentage points with the Bank of Korea slashing its key rate to 2-point-5 percent in its last meeting in May. On the same day, Bank of Korea Deputy Governor Park Jong-woo noted the Fed Chairman's cautious policy approach, influenced by U.S. tariff policy and divergent views among officials. Speaking at a meeting on macroeconomic issues, he also highlighted the growing uncertainty regarding the future path of U.S. monetary policy. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea urges N. Korea, Russia to "immediately" end all military cooperation, calls on Moscow's "constructive role" for peace

2025/06/19 20:00

Seoul has called on Moscow to play a constructive role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, and immediately end illegal military cooperation with North Korea. Upon the one-year mark of Russia and North Korea's mutual security pact, a South Korean government official expressed "grave concern" over continued violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, saying any agreements between the two sides must fully comply with international law. South Korea intends to continue efforts to achieve progress toward peace on the Peninsula, and resolving North Korea's nuclear threat. The official added Seoul urges Pyongyang to respond positively to these efforts and calls on Russia to assume a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the Peninsula.

20 S. Korean nationals in Iran evacuate to Turkmenistan

2025/06/19 20:00

A group of South Korean nationals in Iran has been safely evacuated to Turkmenistan, amid intensifying military clashes between Israel and Iran. Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Thursday some 20 individuals, including 18 South Korean nationals and two Iranian family members, departed from Tehran, and traveled around 12-hundred kilometers for some 30 hours to reach Iran's eastern border checkpoint. The ministry provided chartered buses and assisted with border procedures as well as other necessary consular support. Seoul also sent a Rapid Response Team to Turkmenistan to help with accommodation and assistance in arranging return flights. Following this evacuation, around 90 Koreans remain in Iran. The government stated that it stands ready to provide additional consular support and evacuation assistance upon request. Its travel advisories for Iran and Israel are both at level 3, which recommends Korean nationals leave.

Trump holds off decision on U.S. military involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

2025/06/19 20:00

Israel and Iran have continued to go back and forth with airstrikes for an entire week now. U.S. President Donald Trump is delaying a decision on his country's involvement. Our Moon Hye-ryeon reports. Seven days into Israel's military campaign against Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, cross-border attacks are escalating. On Thursday morning local time, an Iranian missile struck Israel's main southern hospital, causing what officials described as "extensive damage." This came as Israel targeted a heavy water reactor southwest of the Iranian capital, with Iranian state media reporting that the facility had been evacuated ahead of the strike and that no civilian areas were affected. Israel had issued a warning earlier in the day, stating its intention to strike the site and urging residents to evacuate. The latest air assaults come amid uncertainty over possible U.S. involvement in the conflict. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday local time, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had yet to make a final call, and he would hold off doing so for now. "I have ideas as to what to do, but I haven't made it final. I'd like to make the final decision one second before it's due, you know, because things change. I mean, especially with war, things change with war, it can go from one extreme to the other." Shortly afterwards, he convened a second White House Situation Room meeting in as many days to discuss the agenda with his national security advisers. The talks lasted for around an hour, and it is not yet clear what was discussed or whether any decisions were made. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump told senior aides late Tuesday that he had approved plans for a potential military strike on Iran, but decided to pause, hoping Tehran might still give up its nuclear program. Earlier in the day, Trump claimed that Iran had proposed to come to the White House to begin negotiations, and once again, called for "unconditional surrender." In response, Iran's diplomatic mission to the United Nations in New York hit back on social media by saying that "No Iranian official has asked to grovel at the gates of the White House," followed by a message from Iran's supreme leader himself. "The Iranian nation stands firm against the imposed war – as it has stood so far – and stands firm against the imposed peace. The Iranian nation will not surrender to anyone in the face of imposition." As tensions intensify, nations are moving to evacuate their own nationals from Israel. The U.S. State Department has started pulling out non-essential diplomats and is arranging evacuation flights and ships for American citizens, while China is also working to evacuate its citizens. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

President Lee to meet with ruling, opposition party leaders on Sunday

2025/06/19 20:00

President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet with the leader of the ruling party as well as the leader of the main opposition party this Sunday. Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho told reporters on Thursday that the President will host a luncheon at the presidential residence with Democratic Party acting leader and floor leader Kim Byung-kee, People Power Party interim leader Kim Yong-tae, and the party's floor leader, Song Eon-seok. President Lee will share his experience from the recent G7 summit in Canada and engage in what the top office described as a "frank and open dialogue," with no set items on the agenda.

Cabinet approves enforcement decree to boost support for scientists and engineers

2025/06/19 20:00

The Cabinet on Thursday passed an enforcement decree to implement the revised Special Act on Support of Scientists and Engineers for Strengthening National Science and Technology Competitiveness. Senior Presidential Secretary for AI and Future Planning Ha Jung-woo said the decree will lay the groundwork for more support across the science and engineering fields, starting with outreach programs to spark interest among younger students. It also promotes quality education and research at the university level, including reforms to research systems and training aligned with industry needs. National guidelines for postdoctoral researchers will be standardized to improve hiring, career development, and research conditions. The decree takes effect this Saturday.

Human development at a crossroads: UNDP’s Pedro Conceição on AI, Equity, and Global Choices

2025/06/19 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Artificial intelligence is transforming every layer of society — from classrooms and clinics to economies and elections. But while technology races forward, global human development is stalling. The latest UNDP Human Development Report released today titled, "A Matter of Choice," warns of widening inequality, eroding agency, and deepening distrust unless we act deliberately. As digital divides harden and AI systems reflect the biases of their creators, the stakes are growing globally. At this turning point, how can we ensure AI serves people — not the other way around? What roles should nations, such as Korea, play in bridging capability gaps and advancing a more inclusive, ethical and human-centered development model? To explore these critical questions, we speak with Pedro Conceicao, director of the Human Development Report office at the UNDP. A big welcome. 1. Let's begin with the big picture. The 2025 HDR opens with a stark warning — AI is accelerating while human development stagnates. Director, what structural changes are essential to bridge the gap between technology and human progress? 2. Building on that contrast, the report stresses that development is "a matter of choice." How can national governments and international actors align their policies to prioritize people over platforms in the AI economy? 3. Another key framework introduced in the report is the idea of a "complementarity economy." Could you elaborate on what this means— and how AI might be used to amplify human creativity and purpose? 4. At the heart of human development is agency. A recurring insight in the report is that digital technologies can both empower and control. How do we protect human agency in this increasingly algorithmic world, especially for vulnerable groups? 6. Turning to the cultural dimension of AI, one of the report's striking visuals shows that ChatGPT answers reflect cultural patterns of very high HDI countries. How do we decolonize AI to ensure it reflects global diversity — not just dominant voices? 7. Korea offers a unique case in point. Having transformed itself into a tech-forward economy with strong public institutions, what lessons can be drawn from its model to inform global strategies on AI for sustainable development? 8. On the global stage, in what ways can Korea, through multilateral engagement, contribute to global standard-setting around ethical AI, 윤리적인 AI, 디지털 공공 인프라, 포괄적인 거버넌스에 관한 세계적 표준 설정에 한국이 다자 참여를 통해 어떻게 기여할 수 있을까요? 9. Bringing the focus to the ground level, can you share successful UNDP projects that demonstrate how AI is already contributing to education, health, or poverty reduction — particularly in the Global South? 10. Finally, looking ahead with urgency and hope, as we navigate an era of climate shocks, conflict, and tech disruption, what's the single most important principle that should guide human development efforts in the AI age?

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