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As Lee verdict looms, Democratic Party begins to weigh 'what if'
Who could replace Lee Jae-myung as the liberal presidential candidate? Anxiety within the Democratic Party of Korea is growing, as the verdict on an election law case against its most likely presidential candidate, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, could come before the decision on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment. Lee is appealing a jail sentence he received in November that was strong enough to strip him of his ability to hold public office. If his jail term is upheld on March 26, the Democratic Party
March 19, 2025 -
Main opposition mulls acting president’s impeachment
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Wednesday ramped up its threats to impeach acting President Choi Sang-mok over his refusal to appoint a ninth justice to the Constitutional Court. The Democratic Party’s growing calls for Choi to appoint opposition-recommended Justice candidate Ma Eun-hyuk come amid speculation that the court’s current eight-member bench has been deadlocked over a verdict in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial. Main opposition leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung bla
March 19, 2025 -
What's behind delay in Yoon Suk Yeol verdict?
Experts say delay in court's decision suggests disagreement among justices The Constitutional Court's deliberation on the motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol is taking longer than expected, as more than three weeks have passed since hearings ended in late February. Deliberations in the impeachment cases of former presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun concluded within two weeks. Although Justice Cheong Hyung-sik, who presides over the case, stressed in December a speedy ruling on the ca
March 19, 2025 -
Govt. to use all available resources to rein in soaring home prices: acting president
Acting President Choi Sang-mok said Wednesday the government will use all available resources to curb the rise in home prices. Choi made the remarks in an economy-related ministers' meeting, noting, "Home prices have been on a recent rise in some parts of Seoul." "We will view the situation seriously and the related ministries and local governments will cooperate to sternly respond to price hikes in the housing market to ease concerns," he said, adding the government will take special measures i
March 19, 2025 -
Lee Jun-seok gets nod as Reform Party's presidential candidate
New Reform Party first to announce presidential campaign ahead of Yoon's impeachment ruling The conservative minor opposition New Reform Party on Tuesday announced its decision to nominate Rep. Lee Jun-seok as the party’s presidential candidate for a potential early election, should President Yoon Suk Yeol be impeached. Ham Ik-byeong, chair of the party's election management committee, said during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, that Rep. Lee had been officially se
March 18, 2025 -
Acting president exercises 9th veto; urges respect of Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment verdict
Acting President Choi Sang-mok vetoed another opposition-led bill Tuesday, citing constitutional concerns and the potential disruption it may cause on the Korea Communications Commission’s decision-making process. During a Cabinet meeting in Seoul, Choi contended that the bill contained “significant unconstitutional elements” and warned that it could undermine the stability of the KCC’s operations. He emphasized that the bill must undergo a revote in parliament, requiring at least 200 votes in t
March 18, 2025 -
Ruling party proposes axing taxes for second homes outside Seoul
Tax breaks floated to foster growth in non-Seoul areas in seemingly election-conscious announcement The ruling People Power Party on Tuesday announced plans to exempt owners of second or additional homes outside Seoul from taxes. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party's floor leader, said at a meeting of the party leadership that lifting taxes for buyers of homes in non-capital regions could be a way of fostering an even growth across Korea, whose population is heavily concentrated in Seo
March 18, 2025 -
Police again file for arrest warrants for 2 Yoon aides
Police said Monday they again applied for arrest warrants for two senior officials of the Presidential Security Service accused of obstructing investigators' attempt to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The National Office of Investigation filed requests with the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office for warrants to detain acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon and Lee Kwang-woo, chief of the PSS's bodyguard division, according to its officials. It marks the fourth and third time the police
March 17, 2025 -
S. Korea no longer 'liberal democracy': Swedish study
In 2024, South Korea dropped out of category of "liberal democracy," a recent study suggested Monday. V-Dem Democracy Report 2025, released by the Sweden-based V-Dem Institute under the University of Gothenburg, indicated that South Korea since last year can be categorized as an "electoral democracy," falling outside the list of 29 countries deemed to be "liberal democracies." South Korea was one of 11 countries to experience a downgrade from one category to another, as well as one of 45 nations
March 17, 2025 -
Constitutional Court expected to deliver ruling on Yoon this week
Court under pressure as political turmoil continues to grip the nation The Constitutional Court is expected to deliver its ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on either Thursday or Friday, legal experts said Monday. As of Monday, the Constitutional Court had heard and deliberated on the case for 93 days since it received the impeachment motion against Yoon passed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly on Dec. 14. The deliberation process on Yoon’s case is the lengt
March 17, 2025 -
Ruling party lawmaker demands court delay Yoon verdict until March 26 or after. Here's why.
The ruling People Power Party has demanded the Constitutional Court push back a verdict on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment amid speculation that the ruling could come out as early as this week. Some ruling party lawmakers claimed the impeachment verdict should not be handed down before March 26 — the date an appellate court is scheduled to rule on opposition leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung's alleged election law violation. They seem to anticipate that a guilty verdict for Lee before Yo
March 17, 2025 -
Presidential bodyguards purge official over Yoon Suk Yeol's arrest: reports
With suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol having been abruptly released from jail on March 8, the Presidential Security Service appears to be taking action against its own officials involved in facilitating his arrest. According to local media reports, the PSS’ disciplinary committee, which convened last week, has decided to dismiss a senior official who met investigators after the law enforcement’s first attempt to arrest Yoon was thwarted by PSS staff and military personnel who formed human barri
March 17, 2025 -
Opposition outdoes ruling party in approval ratings 44.3% to 39%
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea recorded an approval rating of 44.3 percent in a recent poll released Monday, with the difference to the ruling People Power Party's approval rating of 39 percent being beyond the margin of error. Compared to the same poll in the previous week, the main liberal party's rating rose 3.3 percentage points while the main conservative party's approval rating dropped 3.7 percentage points, according to the nationwide survey of 1,510 people aged 18 and up M
March 17, 2025 -
Ruling party says will respect Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment verdict
Protests intensify on both sides; Focus on whether president will accept ruling South Korea appears to be on edge with politicians urged to respect the upcoming ruling from the Constitutional Court amid intensifying protests over the weekend. The court is likely to hand down its verdict on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment this week. The ruling People Power Party floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong on Sunday said that the party would accept the Constitutional Court's final verdict t
March 16, 2025 -
Ruling party presidential hopefuls walk fine line as Yoon impeachment fate hangs in balance
Mayors Oh, Hong postpone presidential bid-linked books ahead of Constitutional Court ruling on Yoon’s impeachment case, expected this week. Leading figures of the ruling People Power Party, widely regarded as potential contenders in the next presidential election, are treading cautiously as the Constitutional Court’s ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, delayed beyond initial expectations, raises political uncertainties within the conservative bloc. Such actions mark a sharp contrast
March 16, 2025