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Opposition eyes unilateral nomination of new Constitutional Court justices
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea plans to unilaterally pass a motion to nominate three Constitutional Court justices Thursday despite fierce resistance from the ruling People Power Party and calls from acting President Han Duck-soo for a parliamentary compromise on the matter. The plenary session of the National Assembly is slated for 2 p.m., with a consensus among the Democratic Party to vote in favor of the justices' nomination. Confirmation hearings for the justices were held in
Dec. 26, 2024 -
Lee Jun-seok hints at presidential run, shuns alliance
Rep. Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative New Reform Party announced Wednesday his intention to run for president if an early election is called, firmly ruling out any possibility of withdrawing his candidacy in favor of the ruling People Power Party. “Given the circumstances, it seems likely,” Lee said during an interview on an SBS radio program when asked if he would join the presidential race if the election were held in 2025. If the Constitutional Court upholds Yoon’s impeachment, a presid
Dec. 25, 2024 -
151 or 200? Debate ensues over acting president's impeachment threshold
A heated debate is unfolding over the constitutional roles and responsibilities of South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo, who has assumed presidential duties following President Yoon Suk Yeol's suspension on Dec. 14. At the heart of the controversy lies a critical question: Should Han, who also serves as Prime Minister, be treated as a president or a prime minister when facing an impeachment vote? The answer carries significant implications for the governance of the country, already suffer
Dec. 25, 2024 -
How ex-commander became the focus of martial law probes
Noh Sang-won, the former chief of the Defense Intelligence Command, has become a central figure in the investigation into the brief martial law declaration on Dec. 3, following his arrest Tuesday. Evidence points to Noh as one of the masterminds behind the plan for President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree. Police also found Noh's notebook detailing plans for implementing a martial law state, which suggests that Noh even devised a scheme to provoke North Korea as a means of justifying Preside
Dec. 25, 2024 -
Yoon Suk Yeol again snubs summons for insurrection probe
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday again failed to appear for questioning as requested by the investigation team handling his insurrection charge concerning his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. The president did not arrive at the headquarters of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials -- an independent investigative body targeting corruption accusations by to-level government officials -- at the ordered time of 10 a.m. The CIO said it will wait for the president for th
Dec. 25, 2024 -
Supreme Court says acting president can appoint justice to top court
The Supreme Court has confirmed that acting President Han Duck-soo appointing new justices to the nation's top court would not be deemed unconstitutional. The written answer submitted to Rep. Baek Hye-ryun of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea comes amid a parliamentary feud over an acting leader's authority on finalizing the appointment for the new justices of the Constitutional Court. "A Supreme Court justice is ultimately appointed by the president but there are systems to keep (th
Dec. 25, 2024 -
Yoon unlikely to appear for questioning Wednesday: lawyer
President Yoon Suk Yeol is unlikely to appear for questioning this week as requested by the investigation team handling the martial law case, his lawyer said Tuesday. The probe team is seeking to question Yoon in person over his alleged involvement in the botched Dec. 3 martial law imposition, on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, and has asked him to appear for questioning Wednesday. Seok Dong-hyeon, Yoon's lawyer, said Yoon places priority on the Constitutional Court proceedings on hi
Dec. 24, 2024 -
Opposition party defers plan to introduce impeachment motion against Han
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said Tuesday it will wait two more days to introduce an impeachment motion against acting President Han Duck-soo over his refusal to promulgate two special counsel bills targeting President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee. The DP had initially planned to introduce the impeachment motion at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. But it later decided to postpone the plan to see whether Han appoints Constitutional Court justices once the motions for their appointment
Dec. 24, 2024 -
Democratic Party threatens impeachment as Han Duck-soo puts off special counsel bills
Acting President Han Duck-soo brushed off opposition demands to approve bills by Tuesday that would launch special counsel investigations into President Yoon Suk Yeol's alleged insurrection and his wife Kim Keon Hee’s alleged election meddling and corruption. Han's action came after the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Sunday unilaterally set a Tuesday deadline for Han to approve the bills during a Cabinet meeting, warning of swift consequences if he failed to comply. However, under
Dec. 24, 2024 -
Ruling party taps five-term lawmaker for emergency committee chief
The ruling People Power Party on Tuesday nominated five-term lawmaker and former Unification Minister Kwon Young-se to helm its emergency leadership committee, which was launched after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 14 impeachment. People Power Party Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong announced the decision during a general meeting of lawmakers in the morning, stressing that the new committee chair is tasked with “rebuilding and reforming” the conservative party. “I announce to the people (the nomina
Dec. 24, 2024 -
Will CIO issue arrest warrant for Yoon?
Yoon unlikely to appear for questioning: confidant With the chances of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appearing for questioning becoming slim, all eyes are on whether an arrest warrant will be issued for Yoon due to his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3. On Tuesday, Yoon’s lawyer Seok Dong-hyun stated that Yoon is unlikely to appear for questioning this week, saying that the necessary conditions to commence with questioning are “not yet in place.” Earlier, the Corruption Investigati
Dec. 24, 2024 -
Ex-FSC chief named as envoy for financial cooperation
Choi Jong-ku, a former top financial policymaker and regulator, has been named South Korea's ambassador for international financial cooperation -- a new role created to reassure trade partners and credit rating agencies of the country’s financial resilience amid political turmoil. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, acting President Han Duck-soo said Tuesday that the 67-year-old Choi, who previously headed the Financial Services Commission and the Export-Import Bank of Korea, will "dedicate himself t
Dec. 24, 2024 -
Opposition pushes for Han's impeachment, after acting president skips review of special counsel bills
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said Tuesday it will push ahead with the impeachment process for acting President Han Duck-soo, on the coattails of him snubbing the opposition's demand to promulgate special counsel bills targeting the president and first lady and calling for a parliamentary "compromise" on current issues. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, accused Han of impediment with the intention to maintain what the opposition is defining as an act of insurre
Dec. 24, 2024 -
Assembly speaker in limelight amid talk of next presidency
Poll shows Woo Won-shik has become most trusted politician after martial law crisis President Yoon Suk Yeol's unprecedented declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 dominated headlines, but a photo of a man climbing a wall to enter the National Assembly compound that same night also went viral. The man, identified as National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, led an emergency vote in the chaos-filled Assembly despite the absence of most ruling party lawmakers, ultimately lifting Yoon's martial law. Ele
Dec. 24, 2024 -
KAI signs W136b deal to export Surion helicopters to Iraq
Defense firm Korea Aerospace Industries said Monday it has signed a 136 billion won ($93.7 million) deal to export the Korean Utility Helicopter to Iraq. Under the deal, KAI will supply the helicopters to the Iraqi government by March 2029, the company said in a regulatory filing. The KUH, known as Surion, a medium-sized utility helicopter, has been deployed in the South Korean Army since 2012. Currently, more than 200 Surion helicopters are in operation here for the Army, which carry out variou
Dec. 23, 2024