Most Popular
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‘Drag lawmakers out’: Yoon’s chilling order to commander
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Korean millennials, Gen Z make presence felt at protests
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NewJeans manager files workplace harassment complaint against Ador CEO Kim Ju-young
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Speak or not to speak? K-pop stars face dilemma amid national crisis
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Joint investigation team on Yoon launched
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Yoon refuses to resign, defends martial law against 'monstrous' opposition
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Prosecutors tighten grip on Kim
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Will ruling party lawmakers change course?
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Milwaukee Tools launches small yet powerful impact wrench
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Assembly passes reduced budget plan, special counsel
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Yoon's senior aides resign en masse
Senior officials at the presidential office, including chief of staff, collectively tendered their resignations Wednesday morning in the wake of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration and subsequent lifting of martial law. The presidential office told reporters that “Chief of staff and senior secretaries have collectively offered their resignations.” Senior aides reportedly reached a consensus to resign during a meeting of senior secretaries presided over by Chief of Staff Chu
Dec. 4, 2024
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‘Wow:’ Elon Musk reacts to South Korea’s martial law news
Elon Musk -- the Tesla CEO and joint head of US President Donald Trump's planned Department of Government Efficiency -- expressed shock over the news of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declaration martial law, responding multiple times on social media X. On Tuesday night, Musk reacted to a post by an X user that said South Korean President Yoon declared martial law. Musk replied with a double exclamation mark “!!” Roughly three hours later, Musk commented “Wow”
Dec. 4, 2024
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Yoon Suk Yeol postpones meeting on drug control
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday postponed his plan to attend a meeting to review drug control measures, according to the presidential office, hours after he agreed to the parliament's request to revoke martial law. "The meeting to assess the current status of drug control measures, originally set to take place at the presidential office, has been rescheduled," an official said.
Dec. 4, 2024
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Ruling party chair urges President Yoon Suk Yeol to dismiss defense minister
Han Dong-hoon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party on Wednesday urged South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to immediately dismiss the minister of national defense, who recommended the declaration of martial law. The former justice minister said all officials accountable for the crisis must face serious consequences, stressing that the president himself should be able to provide a detailed explanation of the situation. "As the ruling party, we deeply apologize to the public for this di
Dec. 4, 2024
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South Korean Cabinet votes to end martial law
President Yoon Suk Yeol convened a Cabinet meeting early Wednesday and formally approved the lifting of the martial law he declared just hours earlier, following the National Assembly’s vote. This put an end to the six-hour chaos that erupted after President Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday night against "anti-state forces" within the country, imposing a nationwide ban on assembly and political activities among others. The Prime Minister’s Office said the Cabinet voted
Dec. 4, 2024
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Opposition parties submit motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korea's six opposition parties on Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the martial law declaration the previous day. The six parties - the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and minor oppositions Rebuilding Korea Party, Reform Party, Jinbo Party, Basic Income Party and Social Democratic Party - plan to put the motion to the plenary session on Thursday, and to put it to the vote on Friday or Saturday. The main opposition had hinted at such a mo
Dec. 4, 2024
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Full text of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreeing to lift martial law
Below is a full, unofficial translation of President Yoon Suk Yeol's statement issued on Wednesday, announcing that the declaration of emergency martial law is lifted. Last night at 11 p.m., I declared a state of emergency martial law with a determined will to save the nation, in response to anti-state forces that were paralyzing the essential functions of the state and undermining the liberal democratic constitutional order. However, just a moment ago, the National Assembly requested t
Dec. 4, 2024
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President Yoon Suk Yeol declares end to martial law after six-hour chaos
President Yoon Suk Yeol conceded Wednesday morning to the National Assembly's request to lift the martial law, as he pledged he would preside over the Cabinet meeting immediately, admitting his surprise declaration of martial law was short-lived. "I will immediately accept the National Assembly's request and lift the martial law through the Cabinet," Yoon said in a televised address to the nation at around 4:20 a.m. "I convened the Cabinet immediately, but the quorum has not yet b
Dec. 4, 2024
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What unfolded on Tuesday night in Seoul: A timeline
President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law at 10:23 p.m.; shortly after 1 a.m., parliament voted to lift it. South Korea witnessed one of its most dramatic political events in recent years from late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, when President Yoon Suk Yeol suddenly declared emergency martial law, citing "anti-state forces plotting rebellion." The crisis lasted over six hours, with the first 157 minutes being the most tense, as lawmakers gathered at the National Assembl
Dec. 4, 2024
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Citizens call for Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment after martial law revoked
After the opposition-led National Assembly voted to demand the revocation of martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol late Tuesday, airborne troops withdrew from the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, early Wednesday, amidst applause and growing calls from citizens demanding the president’s impeachment. The martial law declaration, made at 10:30 p.m., sparked immediate public outrage, with hundreds of people assembling at the National Assembly and demanding its repeal. At
Dec. 4, 2024
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Assembly speaker declares martial law as invalid
The opposition-led National Assembly's vote to revoke President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law has effectively lifted the declaration, Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said Wednesday. Woo chaired an Assembly plenary session that convened around 1 a.m. on Wednesday. The motion was passed after 190 members of the 300-member Assembly who were present at the session voted in favor of it. Of the 190 members, 172 were opposition lawmakers, while 18 were members of the ruling People Power Part
Dec. 4, 2024
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Legal experts: Martial law 'clearly illegal,' violent enforcement punishable
Multiple legal experts characterized President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law as "clearly illegal" and "without justification" on social media posts and in conversation with The Korea Herald. The experts spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the situation. Legal scholars drew parallels to former President Chun Doo-hwan's nationwide martial law declaration on May 17, 1980, which led to the Gwangju Democratic Uprising and the milita
Dec. 4, 2024
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Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung calls martial law declaration 'unconstitutional'
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
Dec. 4, 2024
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Presidential office press corps forced to leave
The presidential office press corps faced an eviction order from its building in Seoul, according to Park An-su, who led the headquarters of the Martial Law Command. The order came into effect as of 12:45 a.m. Wednesday. This was the latest result of President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Tuesday, which the opposition-controlled National Assembly claimed had a procedural fault and was deemed invalid.
Dec. 4, 2024
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Cho Kuk says declaration of martial law 'illegal,' meets conditions for impeachment
Cho Kuk, leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, said early Wednesday that he believed President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law was "illegal," adding that it goes against the law and is a move that warrants the president's removal from office. "If President Yoon Suk Yeol does not comply with the National Assembly's resolution (to lift the emergency martial law), that would be considered both illegal and a criminal act," Rep. Cho told
Dec. 4, 2024
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[From the Scene] Rush to get to National Assembly in first hours of martial law
In the hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared in South Korea at around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, chaos ensued west of Yeouido in central Seoul as lawmakers, aides and reporters rushed to get to the National Assembly. Soon after Yoon announced he would impose martial law, police squads began surrounding the gates of the legislature. At this point, people could enter at checkpoints if they presented their passes. Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Byung-kee, running up flights of stairs, could be
Dec. 4, 2024
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Martial law forces withdraw from parliament after nullification vote
Forces have completely withdrawn from South Korea's National Assembly building, the Speaker's office confirmed to local media early Wednesday morning. The withdrawal came shortly after the National Assembly voted unanimously to nullify President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, with all 190 lawmakers present voting in favor at 1:01 a.m. Wednesday. Earlier footage showed soldiers breaking windows to enter the main parliamentary floor. Forces were positioned at the main e
Dec. 4, 2024
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Assembly passes motion to revoke martial law
The opposition-led Assembly on Wednesday passed the motion to revoke the emergency martial law declaration made by President Yoon Suk Yeol, with all 190 lawmakers that were present voting in favor. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik convened an emergency plenary session on Wednesday, few hours after the president declared martial law. According to Korean law, the president is required to lift the declaration if the National Assembly requests it after a majority vote.
Dec. 4, 2024
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What you need to know about South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and political turmoil
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday, marking the first use of such powers since the country ended military rule in the 1980s. Here’s what you need to know about Yoon, his political opponents and the state of Korean politics. Yoon's low support rating Yoon, 63, a conservative leader, has passed the midpoint of his single, five-year term with approval ratings hovering around 25 percent, among the lowest for a South Korean president. His adm
Dec. 4, 2024
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Seoul mayor voices opposition against martial law
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon voiced his opposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law late Tuesday. "I stand against martial law. The martial law declaration should be retracted," wrote Oh on his Facebook account. "As mayor, I will do everything in my power to preserve the daily lives of our citizens." According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's office, Oh conducted a meeting with high-ranking city government officials late Tuesday and emphasized
Dec. 4, 2024