South Korean prosecutors filed an arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, accusing him of collaborating with President Yoon Suk Yeol to orchestrate an insurrection in the controversial Dec. 3 martial law declaration. This marks a significant development in the investigation, as prosecutors identify Yoon as the central figure behind the alleged coup attempt. Kim, summoned by the special prosecution investigation team for questioning on insurrection, abuse of power and other char

Politics Dec. 10, 2024

  The investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial December 3 martial law declaration has descended into a jurisdictional tug-of-war among South Korea’s prosecutorial, police and anti-corruption agencies, raising concerns about the investigation's clarity and efficiency. At the heart of the dispute is the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which rejected a request from the prosecutor’s office to hand over all cases related to the mart

Politics Dec. 9, 2024

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly avoided impeachment on Saturday after the motion was scrapped for failing to meet the quorum of two-thirds of the 300-member Assembly. However, his legal troubles are far from over. Police, prosecutors and corruption authorities have all begun wide-ranging investigations into his controversial declaration of martial law and opposition parties vow to pursue alternative avenues of accountability. The prosecution said Sunday the president has been booke

Politics Dec. 8, 2024

In a dramatic turn of events during the Dec. 7 National Assembly vote on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment motion, all but one member of the ruling People Power Party vacated the chamber in a boycott. The motion is likely to fail to pass due to a lack of quorum. Only Ahn Cheol-soo remained among the ruling party members to cast a vote. However, two more lawmakers from the ruling party -- Kim Yea-ji, and Kim Sang-wook -- chose to return and cast their votes. Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a three-

Politics Dec. 7, 2024

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

Politics Dec. 6, 2024

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

Politics Dec. 6, 2024

Mass protests and calls for the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol are spreading across South Korea, with citizens from diverse sectors -- including education, religion, NGOs and the arts -- staging candlelight vigils and rallies denouncing his controversial declaration of martial law. This marks the largest nationwide candlelight protest movement since the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2016. The wave of dissent has been particularly pronounced among university students an

Politics Dec. 5, 2024

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday has sparked widespread criticism, marking the first time in over 40 years that such a measure has been invoked. Political experts suggest that the unprecedented move is rooted in Yoon’s increasing political isolation, compounded by numerous scandals, legislative gridlock and growing tensions with both opponents and allies. Park Chang-hwan, a political commentator and professor at Jangan University,

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

The declaration of emergency martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol has left citizens grappling with disbelief, fear and anger. The unprecedented move, announced late Tuesday night, has plunged the nation into a state of uncertainty, evoking painful memories of some of South Korea’s authoritarian past and sparking concerns about the future of the country’s democracy. As the news spread early Wednesday morning, commuters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, gathered in the bustling City Hall area to

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

Main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung issued a stern warning to those who comply with the President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law orders. Lee harshly criticized President Yoon’s decision to declare martial law, calling it “illegal and unconstitutional, with no practical prerequisites to justify such an extreme measure.” He further addressed the military and police, stating, “From this moment on, the president’s orders stemming from the illegal martial law declarat

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

Following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law on Dec. 3, the Ministry of Education has officially confirmed that schools will operate as usual on Wednesday. In a statement issued late this evening, a Ministry of Education spokesperson clarified, “Despite the declaration of martial law, there are currently no directives or restrictions that would necessitate school closures. Classes will proceed as scheduled tomorrow.” This announcement comes amid a wa

Social Affairs Dec. 4, 2024

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law Tuesday night, sending shock waves through the nation. Made near at 10:25 p.m., the announcement has left citizens and experts alike scrambling to understand its implications. According to South Korea’s Constitution and the Martial Law Act, emergency martial law can be declared during wartime, in cases of a major national emergency akin to war, or when public order is severely disrupted, rendering administrative and judici

Politics Dec. 3, 2024

SEJONG -- Starting in March next year, classrooms across South Korea will see a new digital transformation. Instead of opening up textbooks, third, fourth, and seventh graders, along with first-year high school students, will turn on their digital devices to participate in class. On Monday, the Ministry of Education unveiled 76 government-certified artificial intelligence-based digital textbooks, showcasing their capabilities through a demonstration to reporters. If successfully implemented, Sou

Social Affairs Dec. 3, 2024

The Ministry of Education said Monday that it regretted the suspension of operations by the medical standoff consultation body, adding that the government is open to talks for the school year 2026, not 2025. Koo Yeon-hee, a ministry spokesperson, made the remarks at a briefing at the Sejong Complex, responding to the medical community's decision to cease the council on Sunday. The ministry also reiterated its stance on keeping the increased quota and noted that the 2025 quota for medical sc

Politics Dec. 2, 2024

A severe decline in birthrate pushing Korea to the verge of becoming super-aged society, the number of elderly inmates in correctional facilities is also increasing rapidly, with 1 in 6 inmates aged 60 years or older. According to the Ministry of Justice's corrections statistics on Monday, the the number of inmates aged 60 and above surged from 2,350 in 2013 to 6,504 in 2023, and now makes up 17.1 percent of the total prison population. This demographic shift leaves behind significant chall

Social Affairs Dec. 2, 2024