eFM News

≡ Ex-President Lee In Lockup As Prosecutors Investigate Alleged Corruption

[Anchor] Former President Lee Myung-bak is in lockup at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center as prosecutors carry out an investigation into his alleged financial misconduct. He is now the fourth democratically elected South Korean president to be arrested for corruption. Meeyeon Ahn reports. [Reporter] The former president was processed like any other criminal suspect when he arrived at the Seoul detention center. He had his identity checked and mugshot taken and changed into a prison uniform before he was put in a solitary cell. According to the justice ministry, the cell is equipped with a TV, locker, and a toilet. Prosecutors don't plan to question the 77 year-old former leader today. Given his age, they said he probably needed some rest. Investigators will likely visit at the center early next week for further questioning. If convicted of the some 14 charges against him, including receiving 11 billion won in bribes, abuse of power, and embezzling 35 billion won through slush funds, Lee could face up to 45 years in prison. This scandal is rocking local politics as it comes ahead of the June local elections. Parties quickly responded to Lee's arrest. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party, which has supported the former leader, criticized the move and called it political revenge. But they were alone--all other parties welcomed the court's decision as a "natural result" under law and the Constitution. Ruling Democratic Party leader Choo Mi-ae praised it as the end of 9 years of government corruption and expressed hope that history doesn't repeat itself. Meeyeon Ahn, eFM News.■ [2018.03.23]

≡ US Temporarily Exempts S. Korea From Steel Tariffs

The United States is temporarily exempting South Korea from stiff tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, following weeks of lobbying by Seoul officials. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told a Senate hearing in Washington Thursday that President Donald Trump had authorized a "pause" in the 25 percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum set to go into effect Friday. Also on the list were Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Argentina, Brazil and Australia. South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said it would last until the end of April, for now, but negotiations need to continue on conditions for a permanent exemption. South Korean officials have been in Washington in recent days for talks on renegotiating the bilateral free trade deal with the U.S., citing the importance of maintaining a united front as the allies seek to resolve the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.■ [2018.03.23]

≡ (BBC) China Considering Tariffs On US Goods In Retaliation For Trump's Tariff Plans

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce says its considering tariffs worth up to three billion dollars on a range of products imported from the United States. They range from fruit and wine to stainless steel pipes and recycled aluminum. The proposed measures are in retaliation for the sweeping tariffs that President Trump plans to introduce on Chinese products. The BBC's Joe Miller reports.■ [Report: 00:29][2018.03.23]

≡ Seoul Stocks In Midday Trade

Turning to the local bourse, stocks in Seoul are trading _________ at this hour. As of noon, the benchmark KOSPI was up/down _____ percent at _______, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ was up/down _____ percent at _______. The local currency was trading at _______ won against the greenback, up/down/unchanged _____ won from yesterday's close.■1,073[2018.03.23]

≡ S. Korea, China, Japan Hold New Trade Talks Amid Rising Protectionism

South Korea, China and Japan are holding a new round of trade talks in Seoul amid rising protectionism. Officials from the three countries are expected to discuss modalities for tariff reduction, service market liberalization, and other global trade issues. This marks their 13th round of three-way talks to boost trade and investment. Prior discussions failed to make any major breakthroughs. They have also been engaging in talks to launch the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership -- a free trade agreement between ASEAN nations, South Korea, China, Japan, India, Australia, and New Zealand -- that was proposed in 2013.■ [2018.03.23]

≡ Trump Replaces National Security Adviser McMaster With Hawkish Bolton

U.S. President Donald Trump is replacing his chief national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, with former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton. Trump announced the move on Twitter late Thursday in Washington, and said the official handover would be on April 9th. McMaster, an Army lieutenant general, said in a statement he will be retiring from service this summer. He had long been rumored to be the next one out amid an ongoing personnel reshuffle that saw the ouster of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week, after Trump agreed to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for talks on denuclearization. Bolton, at 69 years old, has advocated military force against Iran and North Korea, and will be Trump's third national security adviser in 14 months.■ [2018.03.23]

≡ USFK To Hold Civilian Evacuation Drill In April

The U.S. military is planning to hold a noncombatant evacuation drill in South Korea next month, despite the current state of eased tensions. According to the Stars and Stripes newspaper, the Focused Passage training will take place from April 16th to the 20th, when Korean and American troops stage the annual Foal Eagle military exercises. It's aimed at ensuring U.S. Forces Korea service members, families and other non-essential civilians are prepared to evacuate in case of a conflict on the peninsula. And for the first time, the plan is to transport them all the way back to the U.S. A similar regular drill is also held in the fall.■[2018.03.23]

≡ New Cases Of Tuberculosis Decline 9% In 2017

New cases of tuberculosis in South Korea continue to gradually decline. The health ministry reported today that there were 28,161 people newly diagnosed with TB last year, down 9 percent on-year. That means 55 in 100,000 in the country were infected with one of the most common and deadliest diseases, and among them 42 percent were seniors. Six years earlier, the corresponding rate stood at a record-high 78.9 percent, but has been decreasing ever since. TB is caused by bacteria that most often affect the lungs and can spread from person to person through the air, however, most cases can be cured with proper medication.■ [2018.03.23]

≡ Weather Update 1100

Taking a look at the weather, its sunny skies nationwide. Pockets of lingering fog over inland and some coastal areas are burning off. Be aware Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and parts of the North Chungcheong provinces are forecast to get hit with bad levels of fine dust. Take necessary precautions when outdoors. Mild temperatures are in store this afternoon with highs peaking in the low teens. The local mercury will get up to 13 degrees. As for the current reading in central Seoul, it is _____ degrees Celsius or _____ degrees Fahrenheit.■[2018.03.23]