Power struggle intensifies among investigative bodies over Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law case

  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

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Democratic Party to file complaint against Prime Minister

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea announced Monday its plan to file a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, accusing him of insurrection. Senior Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Seung-rae stated after the party's Supreme Council meeting that it would move forward with charges against the prime minister. According to local reports, the main opposition party is considering a motion to impeach the prime m

Social AffairsDec. 9, 2024

Over 60,000 sign petition against park named after dictatorial leader

Over 60,000 South Koreans as of Monday have signed an online petition calling for a ban on the commemoration of convicted politicians by government bodies, demanding former military dictator Chun Doo-hwan's penname to be removed from a public park. The petition, posted on the National Assembly's petition page on Nov. 15, requested the parliament to revise the law to ensure that names of those found guilty of violating the law or the Constitution from being on any type of commemorative

Social AffairsDec. 9, 2024

Travelers uneasy as South Korea works to restore confidence in safety

South Korea’s tourism industry is scrambling to reassure visitors after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law last week caused confusion and travel cancellations. Though the emergency decree was lifted quickly, concerns about safety have prompted some foreign travelers to rethink their plans, raising fears of setbacks for an industry still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Hotels, travel agencies and tour operators report a spike in inquiries from internati

Social AffairsDec. 9, 2024

How Yoon allies ate their own words concerning martial law

President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided impeachment Saturday, as his conservative ruling party staged a united boycott against the opposition-led parliamentary vote, defying public demands to hold him responsible for last week’s surprise declaration of martial law. Records show that Yoon, his Cabinet, and several members of his party have apparently flip-flopped their positions on martial law -- at least in the public address -- from before the fateful night of Dec. 3. Accusations of the preside

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Travel restrictions, curfew imposed on USFK soldiers amid martial law turmoil: source

The political turmoil following last week’s martial law crisis in South Korea has heightened tensions in the US military forces stationed in the country, with some units imposing travel restrictions and curfew, according to officials Monday. A sergeant first class at the US Forces Korea's headquarters of Camp Humphreys, a key US military base in Pyeongtaek, about 65 kilometers south of Seoul, told The Korea Herald that the USFK issued a new regulation limiting all service members'

Social AffairsDec. 9, 2024

Drone deployment to Pyongyang orchestrated by ex-defense minister: DP lawmaker

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered the South Korean military to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles to Pyongyang in October, seemingly to manufacture a justification for President Yoon Suk Yeol to declare martial law, a lawmaker claimed. “I received a tip-off from the military and deemed it credible,” said Rep. Park Beom-kye of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Monday. Park added that specific details of the operation appe

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Impeachment is only solution, political scholars say

A coalition of 573 political scientists called for the immediate reintroduction of an impeachment bill against President Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of violating constitutional order and threatening democratic principles. The demand follows a failed vote Saturday stemming from a boycott from Yoon’s ruling party lawmakers. In a public declaration issued on Sunday evening, the scholars condemned Yoon’s declaration of emergency martial law on Dec. 3, labeling it as an insurrection. They

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Next impeachment vote against Yoon to take place Saturday

The next impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol will take place on Saturday, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung said Sunday. The main opposition has accused Yoon of insurrection for his surprise martial law decree late Tuesday. They called the decree "an attempt to paralyze the functions of the Assembly." The Democratic Party has previously said they plan to float the impeachment motion and hold the vote every Saturday, until it passes thr

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Actor who played journalist in ‘A Taxi Driver’ draws parallels between today, 1980

Thomas Kretschmann, the German actor best known in South Korea for his role in the hit 2017 film “A Taxi Driver,” has expressed concern over recent political turmoil in the country. On Sunday, Kretschmann posted on Instagram a still from “A Taxi Driver” showing tanks blocking the roads to Gwangju, captioned, “These are set photos from "Taeksi Woonjunsa (A Taxi Driver)," a film about South Korea’s past, ... at least, that’s what I thought.&rdquo

Social AffairsDec. 9, 2024

Defense ministry says control of military currently lies with Yoon

The control of South Korea's military forces currently lies with President Yoon Suk Yeol as the commander in chief, the defense ministry said Monday, as he faces investigation as a suspect on treason charges over last week's martial law declaration. On Sunday, prosecutors said they booked Yoon as a suspect on insurrection charges after his surprise declaration of martial law Tuesday night that was unanimously rejected by the National Assembly hours later. "Legally, (the control of

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

DP proposes bills to investigate Yoon's martial law declaration, first lady allegations

The main opposition Democratic Party proposed a special counsel bill on Monday to investigate whether President Yoon Suk Yeol committed treason and other violations during his short-lived declaration of martial law last week. Rep. Kim Yong-min, the DP's deputy floor leader for policy, and Rep. Kim Seung-won submitted the bill, calling on the special counsel to investigate Yoon's alleged "insurrection." The DP also proposed a bill mandating a special counsel probe into allegat

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Ex-interior minister placed under travel ban in connection with martial law probe

Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min has been placed under an overseas travel ban pending an investigation into his role in last week's botched martial law declaration, officials said Monday. The travel ban was imposed by the justice ministry following requests from both the police and the prosecution, they said. (Yonhap)

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Yoon ducking public eye since botched impeachment vote

President Yoon Suk Yeol remained out of the public eye Monday with no planned schedules or releases of official statements after the National Assembly's failed attempt to impeach him over the weekend. Yoon has not appeared in public since his two-minute public apology aired live Saturday, hours before parliament was set to vote on the impeachment motion over his abrupt martial law declaration earlier last week. The motion was scrapped due to a lack of quorum required to pass it, as all but

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Seoul city to expand late-night cabs, extend bus hours until year-end

The Seoul city government said Monday it will expand the operation of late-night taxis and extend the operation hours of buses until the year-end to meet the surge in demand from year-end gatherings. The city plans to supply 1,000 additional night cabs and set up temporary taxi stops in four locations with high demand for the services, including the Gangnam and Jongno districts. A total of some 160 personnel from the city and taxi industry will be deployed to the taxi stops during the remaining

Social AffairsDec. 9, 2024

Police say will consider imposing travel ban on Yoon

Police said Monday they will consider imposing a travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol to investigate him over charges related to his short-lived declaration of martial law last week. Police also did not rule out questioning Yoon in person. "There are no human or physical restrictions to the subject of an investigation," Woo Jong-soo, a senior police official, told reporters during a briefing. (Yonhap)

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Prosecutors grill Army chief over martial law declaration

Prosecutors investigating alleged treason following President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition last week have questioned Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, who had been named to lead the martial law command, informed officials said Monday. Park was grilled by prosecutors as a witness at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office for about eight hours from 6 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday, the officials said. Prosecutors have called in Park and other military leaders who

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Parliamentary committee to review special counsel probe bill into Yoon's treason charges

A parliamentary committee is set to review Monday whether to appoint a permanent special counsel to investigate treason charges against President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law declaration. The main opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority at the National Assembly, seeks to put the bill up for a vote during a plenary session Tuesday after it passes the legislation and judiciary committee. Since last week's abrupt and brief martial law imposition by Yoon, the Corruptio

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Boat capsizes near Gyeongju, killing 7

Seven people have been confirmed dead after their boat capsized off the coast of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the Pohang Coast Guard Station said Monday. According to the Coast Guard, a 29-ton Geumgwang fishing vessel carrying eight crew members collided with a cargo ship before capsizing at around 5:43 a.m. Out of the eight crew members on the fishing vessel, only seven have been found by the Coast Guard, as a search is still underway to find the remaining crew member. As for the cargo

Social AffairsDec. 9, 2024

Commandos ‘victims in ex-defense chief’s plan for Assembly break-in’: group leader

The leader of the 707th special mission group said his commandos are victims of Kim Yong-hyun, the ex-minister who was arrested Sunday. The group’s commandos were tasked with entering the National Assembly after martial law was declared. Col. Kim Hyun-tae, who leads the Special Warfare Command’s elite 707th special mission group, told reporters Monday that he was responsible for making the commandos follow the ex-minister’s orders to break into the parliament’s main build

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024