President Yoon Suk Yeol will step back from state affairs, including diplomacy, as the ruling party and the Cabinet pursue his "early resignation," ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon said Sunday. "President Yoon will not be involved in handling state affairs, including diplomacy, even before his resignation," Han said in a public statement jointly released with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The statement was released in connection with the second meeting between the

Politics Dec. 8, 2024

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon will release a joint public statement after holding a second meeting in response to President Yoon Suk Yeol's decree of martial law late Tuesday, the prime minister's office said Sunday. Though the agenda of the meeting has yet to be announced, observers say that various scenarios that could lessen Yoon's grip on his constitutional power will be discussed. The prime minister will convene an extraordinary

Politics Dec. 8, 2024

Ruling People Power Party Rep. Choo Kyung-ho announced Saturday to step down from his position as the party's floor leader. The announcement came, during a general meeting of ruling party lawmakers, after the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol was scrapped following its failure to pass the Assembly. The impeachment motion required the backing of at least two-thirds of the 300-member Assembly to pass. Choo was among 105 People Power Party lawmakers who boycotted the vote by e

Politics Dec. 7, 2024

The motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his declaration of martial law earlier this week was scrapped Saturday, after his ruling party defended the embattled leader by refusing to vote. Even if Yoon has officially avoided impeachment, political turmoil is projected to continue, with the main opposition pledging to repeatedly submit impeachment motions until Yoon is suspended. The motion was defeated in Saturday's plenary session, after failing to secure the required two-thirds maj

Politics Dec. 7, 2024

Ruling People Power Party Rep. Choo Kyung-ho announced Saturday to step down from his position as the party's floor leader. The announcement came, during a general meeting of ruling party lawmakers, after the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol was scrapped following its failure to pass the Assembly. The impeachment motion requires at least two-thirds of the 300-member Assembly to vote in favor to pass. Choo was among 105 People Power Party lawmakers who boycotted the vote b

Politics Dec. 7, 2024

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

Politics Dec. 6, 2024

Acting Constitutional Court President Moon Hyung-bae said the current "six-member system" is sufficient to begin an impeachment trial on President Yoon Suk Yeol over his controversial martial law decree, but would need "further discussions" to hand down a final verdict. "I do not believe that three more judges (need to be appointed) for the trial to kickoff," Moon told reporters as he entered the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. His comments, h

Politics Dec. 5, 2024

The opposition’s move to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol has gained momentum, since his surprise declaration of martial law late Tuesday. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has accused him of committing a crime similar to treason or insurrection, which is grounds for impeachment. The Constitution protects presidents from civil lawsuits and criminal charges unless they are convicted of treason. Here are the three possible scenarios that could unfold following the opposition-led A

Politics Dec. 5, 2024

The motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol will be put to the vote at around 7 p.m. on Saturday, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said Thursday. According to the party, the bill for launching an independent counsel investigation into first lady Kim Keon Hee will be voted on at the same time. The Democratic Party and five other minor opposition parties tabled the motion to impeach the president at the National Assembly plenary session that kicked off around 12:50 a.m. Thursday. Th

Politics Dec. 5, 2024

-Yoon to face deepening political isolation amid growing threats of impeachment -All senior aides, Cabinet members offer to resign -Opposition submits bills to impeach Yoon, defense minister -Offering to resign, defense minister apologizes, says will take sole responsibility -Ruling party, PM convene at presidential office, PPP split on severing ties with Yoon -Supreme Court chief justice says illegality of martial law declaration will be reviewed -Armed troops forcibly enter Assembly for 1st ti

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

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

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

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.

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

Tuesday's declaration of martial law was the first by a South Korean president in over 40 years. South Korea has had a total of 17 martial law declarations so far since it was first imposed in Oct. 21, 1948. President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom." Yoon labeled the opposition as "anti-state activities plotting rebellion," in the emergency televised address. Interim

Politics Dec. 3, 2024

Ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, calling the decision "wrong," in a statement released late Tuesday. He added that he plans to stop the president's move "alongside the people."

Politics Dec. 3, 2024

The ruling People Power Party on Tuesday denounced the main opposition’s delay in passing the revision to the country’s espionage law, which aims to broaden the scope of activities that are punishable. The revision to Article 98 of the Criminal Act, floated by the ruling party earlier this year, seeks to change the wording of the legislation defining subjects punishable by law, from “a person who acts as a spy for an enemy country” to those from “a foreign nation.&r

Politics Dec. 3, 2024