Prosecutors call in health minister in martial law probe

Prosecutors were questioning Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Thursday as part of a widening investigation into the botched martial law order by President Yoon Suk Yeol, officials said. The special prosecution team handling the probe called Cho in for questioning over his alleged involvement in Yoon's martial law declaration, including his attendance at a Cabinet meeting where the martial law was believed to have been discussed. Cho is the first known Cabinet member to be undergoing questio

PoliticsDec. 12, 2024

N. Korea reports martial law turmoil in S. Korea for 2nd day

North Korea's state media reported on the martial law turmoil in South Korea for a second consecutive day Thursday, saying political chaos is escalating amid calls to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Korean Central News Agency and the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, which caters to the general North Korean readership, published the same article saying, "Voices of protest demanding the impeachment of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol regime are escalating every day, further deepening political chao

North KoreaDec. 12, 2024

[Contribution] Kazakh-Korean partnership builds on mutual growth, traditional friendship

By Nurgali Arystanov Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Korea In 2024, Kazakhstan and South Korea strengthened their strategic partnership, achieving new milestones through key diplomatic events. These developments not only reflect the growing ties between the two countries but also highlight the potential for deeper cooperation across various sectors. Strong political dialogue Political dialogue between Kazakhstan and Korea has been strengthened thanks to the close enga

Foreign AffairsDec. 11, 2024

Yoon conducts legal review of martial law decree: ex-defense minister

President Yoon Suk Yeol had conducted a legal review of last week's martial law decree in person while rewriting it, the ex-defense minister, one of the key suspects in the alleged insurrection, said Wednesday. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was questioned by prosecutors at a detention facility for the first time since his arrest earlier in the day. During the five-hour questioning, he reportedly testified that President Yoon had conducted a legal review of the martial law declaratio

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

Yoon's office hands over 'very limited' documents to block police raid

Police ended their hourslong attempt on Wednesday to raid the presidential office as the presidential security service refused to cooperate with their investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's alleged insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law last week. Instead, Yoon's office voluntarily submitted "very limited" documents and materials to the police. A team of 18 investigators arrived at the presidential office compound shortly before noon to search for ma

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

What if martial law had not been aborted?

With the Dec. 3 martial law decree nullified in just six hours, South Koreans dodged a bullet, possibly quite literally. Criminal investigations into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration have uncovered plans and details suggesting the situation could have unfolded very differently had the National Assembly failed to stop the president. What if the attempt had succeeded? What would South Korea look like under Yoon’s martial law? Here is a scenario based on the martial law

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

Foreign minister admits not taking US ambassador's call on martial law night

South Korea’s Foreign Minister admitted to not taking calls from the US Ambassador to Korea, on the night when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. “I didn’t answer the calls because the situation was too urgent. I didn’t want to mislead the US with an incorrect assessment,” the minister stated during an emergency parliamentary hearing on Wednesday afternoon, in response to a question from Rep. Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party. The minister added that

Foreign AffairsDec. 11, 2024

Embassies deny report it will boycott 2025 APEC Summit

The British, U.S., and Australian embassies in Seoul on Wednesday denied claims by a lawmaker, reported by local media, that ambassadors from the Five Eyes countries would boycott the 2025 APEC summit if President Yoon Suk Yeol remains in office. The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Kim Joon-hyung, a first-term lawmaker from the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, claimed during a National Assembly

Foreign AffairsDec. 11, 2024

Ex-broadcast watchdog head likely to defend Yoon Suk Yeol in court: reports

Kim Hong-il, former chief of South Korea's broadcast watchdog the Korea Communications Commission, might serve as one of President Yoon Suk Yeol's attorneys should Yoon's legal troubles deepen, according to news reports Wednesday. Kim, who had reportedly quit local law firm Shin & Kim, would be joined on a team of up to six attorneys, according to news reports. This came as police accused Yoon of inciting insurrection by declaring martial law and cracking down on dissidents th

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo regrets failing to stop martial law

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said he opposed President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on Dec. 3 and regretted he could not keep Yoon's martial law imposition at bay. "Ultimately, I could not stop (the martial law declaration)," Han told lawmakers at the National Assembly's plenary session Wednesday. "I feel regretful and remorseful." Han's remarks preceded the Cabinet members' apology. Han and most other Cabinet members bowed in unison in a sh

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

Joint investigation team on Yoon launched

A joint investigative body was formed on Wednesday to investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law, amid concerns over overlapping investigations into the high-profile case that deals with allegations of insurrection of a sitting president. The Korean National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation said it would work together with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the Defense Ministry "to leverage the stren

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

"Denture-tube:" South Korea's YouTube conspiracy machine

On the night of Dec. 3, just minutes after President Yoon Suk Yeol's shocking declaration of martial law, dozens of elite military commandos descended on an obscure office building on the outskirts of Seoul. Their target was the headquarters of the National Election Commission -- the country's otherwise staid bureaucratic body that oversees elections. The raid proved anticlimactic -- the commandos only managed to snap a few photos of internal server systems before retreating, failing t

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

After commander’s tell-all testimony, Assembly launches martial law probe

The National Assembly has launched an investigation of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law enactment on Dec. 3, after a commander testified he received direct orders from the president to detain lawmakers. Speaker Woo Won-shik told reporters Wednesday that the commander’s testimony given at the Assembly national defense committee a day prior suggested Yoon tried to block lawmakers from gathering to prevent them from exercising their constitutional duties. “If the testimony is

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

Lee Seung-hwan to perform Friday at pro-impeachment rally in Seoul

Singer Lee Seung-hwan and his band will perform near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Friday, during a rally demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the artist announced Tuesday. Lee, via Instagram, shared his setlist, featuring his hit songs "Dunk Shoot," "As Much as the Love Spread in the World," "God of Money," "Do You Love," "I Ask" and "Superhero." Lyrics for some of the songs will be adjusted to suit the o

Social AffairsDec. 11, 2024

Another ruling party lawmaker withdraws opposition

Rep. Kim Jae-sub of the People Power Party announced Wednesday that he will vote in favor of President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s impeachment in a press conference at the National Assembly. Kim told the reporters that he abstained from voting last week, feeling that the president deserved more time to make a decision. “The resignation needs order and time. But the president is refusing to leave," he said, noting reports that Yoon may argue the legality of declaring martial law. Criticizing

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

[From the Scene] Seoul Library hosts vibrant festival to celebrate Han Kang’s win

On Tuesday afternoon, the typically tranquil atmosphere of the Seoul Metropolitan Library was transformed into an exuberant celebration. The library’s quiet reading rooms came alive with jazz music and animated discussions as bibliophiles gathered for the Novel Literature Festival Seoul 2024 in honor of author Han Kang. The festival, organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korean Publishers Association, was a joyous celebration of Han Kang, who made history as the first Sout

Social AffairsDec. 11, 2024

Seoul mayor assures 'Seoul is safe'

Amid growing concerns over escalating political and social turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief declaration of emergency martial law last week, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Wednesday that "Seoul is safe" and urged tourists to return, vowing to undertake efforts to ensure the safety of travelers. In a meeting held by Oh at Seoul City Hall, the mayor spoke with key stakeholders in the tourism sector, including representatives from the Seoul Tourism Organization, Korea As

Social AffairsDec. 11, 2024