The Minute to Read (Weekdays) series provides a quick overview of significant events in Korea everyday, conveniently condensed into a one-minute read. Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday: Apr. 3.
Seoul police to mobilize 12,600 officers ahead of Yoon impeachment ruling
On April 2, police announced the deployment of 34 senior officers and 210 riot police units—approximately 12,600 personnel—across central Seoul on April 4, when the Constitutional Court will rule on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The deployment covers key areas, including the Constitutional Court, National Assembly, presidential office, and courts in Seocho-gu, aiming to prevent unrest similar to the deadly clashes during Park Geun-hye’s 2017 impeachment ruling. Measures include barricades within a 150-meter radius of the court, blocked subway exits, restricted rooftop access, and the designation of a no-fly zone. Police will monitor and respond to protests, dispatch mobile units, document unlawful acts, and secure diplomatic sites, anticipating possible flash mobs or violent marches regardless of the ruling’s outcome.
Trump proposes 26% tariff on South Korea over alleged unfair trade
On April 2, President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 10% baseline tariff on most goods imported into the United States and higher duties on more than 60 countries under a “reciprocal tariff” scheme, citing unfair trade practices. He singled out South Korea as one of the “worst offenders,” proposing a 26% tariff due to alleged non-tariff barriers and tariffs on U.S. cars and rice, and pointed to a tripling U.S. trade deficit with Seoul from 2019 to 2024. However, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy rejected the claim that it imposes a 13% average tariff, stating that under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, the actual average tariff on U.S. goods was just 0.79% last year, with most products entering duty-free.
IU reflects on love, loss, and legacy in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’
The Netflix drama When Life Gives You Tangerines concluded with an emotional resonance, drawing praise for its raw, honest portrayal of family across generations. IU, who played both Ae-sun and her daughter Geum-myeong, reflected on the complexity of embodying both mother and daughter in a story that captured the struggles, love, and inevitable parting between parents and children. The series stood out for its subtle, heartfelt storytelling—eschewing dramatic twists in favor of everyday emotional truths—and deeply moved viewers with its themes of resilience, generational sacrifice, and the enduring bonds that shape our lives.
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