Yoon Suk Yeol's rumored visit to National Assembly causes commotion

The presidential office confirmed Friday afternoon that President Yoon Suk Yeol did not have plans to visit the National Assembly, but the rumors about him visiting the legislature had caused a commotion among the opposition lawmakers gathered there. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik held an emergency press conference and said that he had not been told of Yoon's visit that was rumored to be at around 3 p.m., and asked him to "postpone the visit, if he does intend to do so."

Dec. 6, 2024

Capital defense, counterintelligence, special warfare commanders suspended

Three commanders accused of direct involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law have been suspended from active duty as of 4 p.m. Friday, the Ministry of National Defense said. They are: Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun and Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo. The Defense Ministry said the commanders have been put on standby for assignment. The Defense Ministry also asked the Ministry of Justice to ban Yeo

Dec. 6, 2024

National Assembly speaker vows to defend democracy, people

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik pledged on Friday that the parliament would do everything in its power to safeguard South Korea’s democracy and protect its citizens, following concerns over rumors and reports that President Yoon Suk Yeol may declare martial law for a second time. Woo issued a stern warning against any attempt to declare martial law again, following reports suggesting Yoon may be considering such a move. “If there is another misjudgment by the President in de

Dec. 6, 2024

Special units formed to probe Yoon's martial law declaration

Special investigation units to probe President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden declaration of martial law that lasted six hours and threw the country into chaos are being formed as he faces an impeachment vote Saturday at 7 p.m. The prosecution's investigation team will be led by Park Se-hyun, chief prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, according to officials. The day before, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung ordered prosecutors to open their own investigation and assigned the case

Dec. 6, 2024

Constitutional Court moves to review illegality of martial law declaration

The acting chief justice of the Constitutional Court said Friday the court had designated a justice to review whether or not President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law had been unconstitutional. Justice Moon Hyung-bae told reporters that a constitutional complaint against Yoon's order on Tuesday night had been registered, and a judge had been named to preside over the case. The case is currently being reviewed. Civic group Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) filed the

Dec. 6, 2024

Spy chief denies reports Yoon ordered NIS to arrest politicians

Cho Tae-yong, the director of the National Intelligence Service, said President Yoon Suk Yeol did not give the spy agency any orders about arresting politicians. Cho denied claims raised by Hong Jang-won, the NIS deputy director, who said the president told him to arrest politicians. “I would like to make it very clear that the president has not asked the NIS director to arrest politicians. The president has not given orders for an arrest before or after the martial law declaration,”

Dec. 6, 2024

Yoon Suk Yeol ordered arrest of ruling, opposition leaders during martial law: deputy intelligence chief

The deputy director of the South Korean spy agency said Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeol had ordered him to arrest prominent political figures including the leaders of both the ruling and multiple opposition parties on Tuesday night following his sudden declaration of martial law. Hong Jang-won, the first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, told the National Assembly that he had been ordered to take into custody several prominent political figures, revealing the names of 11

Dec. 6, 2024

How vacancies at Constitutional Court will impact on Yoon's fate

How will vacancies at Constitutional Court impact impeachment process? After President Yoon Suk Yeol's unprecedented martial law declaration, the National Assembly is putting forward an impeachment motion amid growing calls for Yoon to resign. Here’s a clear breakdown of how the process could unfold and the challenges it faces under the current circumstances. Impeaching a president begins in the National Assembly, South Korea’s legislative body. If the Assembly succeeds in passi

Dec. 6, 2024

[Latest Updates] Impeachment vote scrapped

—————————— «Prosecution names President Yoon Suk Yeol as suspect» By Lee Sun-young Published : Dec. 8, 2024 - 14:39 The Special Prosecutor’s Office said Sunday that President Yoon Suk Yeol is now a suspect facing potential charges of insurrection and abuse of power. Park Se-hyun, head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office who leads the prosecution’s investigation into last week’s martial law turmoil, co

Dec. 6, 2024

Ruling party leader stands firm on suspending Yoon from his position

People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon maintained his stance that President Yoon Suk Yeol should be "suspended from his position," he told party lawmakers after a face-to-face meeting with the embattled South Korean president on Friday afternoon. Han also said did not hear anything from Yoon to overturn his stance announced earlier in the day. "I did not hear anything from Yoon that could have changed my position," Han was quoted as saying at the party meeting Friday afternoo

Dec. 6, 2024

Who is Han Dong-hoon? A key player in Korea’s presidential impeachment drama

Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, once President Yoon Suk Yeol’s staunchest ally, has called for the swift suspension of Yoon’s duties amid ongoing impeachment proceedings. Han’s shift in stance could decisively shape South Korea’s political landscape. At a Supreme Council meeting that captured nationwide attention on Friday morning, Han made a statement, asserting that it is necessary for the president to “promptly cease” performing his duties

Dec. 6, 2024

South Korean military says will not obey another martial law

Senior Ministry of National Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff officials said Friday the military would defy any further attempts to enact martial law, should President Yoon Suk Yeol decide to declare it a second time. Earlier reports that the military was preparing for another declaration of martial law are “completely false,” a senior Defense Ministry official said. “If there ever is a call for declaring martial law once again, the Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staf

Dec. 6, 2024

[Exclusive] NIS agents banned from entering National Assembly

National Intelligence Service agents have been suspended from entering National Assembly buildings after troops broke in following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration. Several sources told The Korea Herald on Friday the National Assembly Secretariat has banned NIS agents from accessing parliament buildings starting Wednesday, along with the police and the Ministry of National Defense officials. The entry passes for NIS agents have been suspended accordingly, sources said. The

Dec. 6, 2024

Prime Minister orders public servants to remain at posts, carry on their duties

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday urged all Cabinet members and public servants to remain at their posts, as the conservative bloc has been grappling with chaos from the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree early this week. "I ask all Cabinet members and public officials of ministries to fulfill their assigned duties at all times to ensure the nation's safety and that people can carry on with their everyday lives without (concerns)," Han said in a wri

Dec. 6, 2024

Special Warfare Commander says no more martial law, vows to refuse such order

Kwak Jong-geun, the Special Warfare Commander who led special forces into the Assembly on Tuesday evening, said Friday that there would be no additional martial law and that he will refuse any such orders in the future. Speaking at a YouTube live show hosted by Democratic Party lawmakers Park Sun-won and Kim Byung-joo, members of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, Kwak said he received orders from Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to drag lawmakers out of the Assembly, 20 minu

Dec. 6, 2024

NEC decries troop dispatch as 'clear violation of Constitution'

The National Election Commission on Friday said the government dispatching soldiers to its offices Tuesday night was a clear violation of South Korea's Constitution and also of other laws, vowing legal action against those responsible. "After the emergency martial law was declared on Dec. 3, about 300 martial law forces forced their way into the NEC headquarters and other offices. ... The troops confiscated the cellphones of five officials, blocked off the entrances and set a perimeter

Dec. 6, 2024

Seoul mayor demands Yoon Suk Yeol break 'irresponsible silence'

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon urged South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to “take full responsibility” and “present a concrete plan to address the crisis. “ “Impeachment is not the only answer,” Oh said through a Facebook post. “The president must break his irresponsible silence.” Yoon hasn’t made a public appearance since ending the emergency martial law declaration early Wednesday. “As the ruling party, it is our duty to alleviate public anx

Dec. 6, 2024

Rights group claims proof of 2nd martial law declaration

South Korean rights group the Center for Military Human Rights Korea revealed Friday that it has obtained proof that President Yoon Suk Yeol is preparing to impose martial law again in the near future. South Korea's Army commanders were ordered to stand by for an emergency call-up as the Army imposed a temporary ban on leave until Sunday, according to the military human rights group, without disclosing the names of the commanders that it suspects had received such instructions. This indicat

Dec. 6, 2024

Major rally set to call for Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment Saturday in Yeouido

The first major Saturday protest since President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law is set to take place in Yeouido, Seoul, on Saturday. The organizers say that an estimated 200,000 people will take part in the protest. The Group for the Movement to Oust the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration, led primarily by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Korea's largest umbrella labor union, plans to hold a large-scale rally in front of the National Assembly at 3 p.m. At present, the

Dec. 6, 2024

Prosecution forms special probe unit for Yoon's martial law

The prosecution said Friday it had formed a special investigation unit to probe President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. The unit will be led by Park Se-hyun, chief prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, the office said. The police, meanwhile, said they had assigned some 120 investigators to probe the case, separately from the prosecution.

Dec. 6, 2024