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DP leader says to focus on ending martial law controversy, not constitutional revision
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said Monday he agrees with the need to revise the Constitution, but it is time to first focus on ending social unrest stemming from former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid. Lee made the remark a day after National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik proposed holding a national referendum on constitutional revision on the day of the upcoming presidential election, which must be held within 60 days following Yoon's ouster by the Constitutional Court l
April 7, 2025 -
Almost four-fifths of S. Koreans accept Yoon's ouster over failed martial law bid
Almost four-fifths of South Koreans say they accepted the Constitutional Court's verdict that removed former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his brief martial law declaration in December, a survey showed Monday. The poll, conducted by Realmeter on 1,516 adults aged over 18 from Wednesday to Friday, found that 76.9 percent of respondents said they accepted the court's ruling. Seventeen percent said they will not accept the outcome, while 15 percent remained undecided. Support for the rul
April 7, 2025 -
Govt. tentatively decides to hold snap presidential election on June 3
The government has tentatively decided to hold a presidential election on June 3 to pick former President Yoon Suk Yeol's successor, which will be confirmed at a Cabinet meeting this week, an official said Monday. Acting President Han Duck-soo plans to confirm the schedule during a Cabinet meeting slated for Tuesday, a senior government official told Yonhap News Agency. "Given the significance of the matter and the issue of designating the election day as a temporary public day, the decision wil
April 7, 2025 -
People Power Party grapples with party's post-Yoon future
Another president gone: history repeats itself for South Korea's conservative party Friday marked a solemn chapter for the People Power Party. Another conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was expelled from office with the Constitutional Court ruling 8-0 in favor of his removal. The main conservative party had been down this road before when President Park Geun-hye was removed in a unanimous Constitutional Court ruling in 2017. Now, the People Power Party is tasked with mapping its path forward
April 6, 2025 -
60-day countdown begins: South Korea swings into election mode
Assembly speaker proposes holding referendum on constitutional amendment on the same day as presidential vote South Korea's two major parties are fast switching into election mode after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office Friday. The Constitution dictates that a successor be elected within 60 days of a president's ouster from office — which means the parties have less than two months to decide on a candidate, assemble a team and hit the campaign trail. The authority to declare
April 6, 2025 -
Presidential hopefuls gear up for race; Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo first to enter
With the earlier-than-scheduled exit of President Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korean politicians are quickly moving into election campaign mode. On Saturday, a day after Yoon’s removal from office was finalized by the Constitutional Court, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo hinted at stepping down to focus on the presidential race. “I have been thoroughly preparing for this election, considering it the final mission of my 30-year political career. Starting next week, I will proceed step by step with the necessa
April 5, 2025 -
No word yet on when Yoon Suk Yeol will vacate presidential residence
Two days since being stripped of the presidency, Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee have yet to vacate the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, as of Sunday. With no word yet on when they will move out, observers suggest that a few more days may be needed for preparations and security arrangements for their private residence. When President Park Geun-hye was removed from office in March 2017, she moved to her private residence two days after the Constitutional Court ruling. Before
April 5, 2025 -
S. Korean presidential office website closed after Yoon's ouster
South Korea's presidential office has suspended its official website following the Constitutional Court's ruling on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from office, a notice on the site showed Saturday. The website said that the service was "temporarily unavailable" as it is "undergoing maintenance," apologizing to the public for causing inconvenience. The notice appears to be a step taken following Friday's court decision to uphold the impeachment of Yoon and dismiss him as president over
April 5, 2025 -
After Constitutional Court loss, Yoon Suk Yeol now faces criminal trial
His Constitutional Court ordeal over, former President Yoon Suk Yeol's legal struggles now move to the criminal court, where he faces a charge of insurrection related to his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. Yoon, who was impeached mainly for power abuses related to his short-lived imposition of martial law, became the first incumbent president in the country's history to be subject to criminal investigation. The prosecution indicted him on suspicion of leading an insurrection. Other charges we
April 5, 2025 -
Acting president discusses snap election process with NEC chief
Acting President Han Duck-soo spoke by phone with the chief of the National Election Commission on Friday to discuss steps for a snap presidential election following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. In the phone talks with NEC chief Roh Tae-ak, Han highlighted the need to ensure a smooth snap election, saying it is key to restoring public trust following the political turmoil caused by Yoon's martial law declaration and subsequent impeachment, Han's office said Han also pointed out
April 4, 2025 -
Yoon tells ruling party leaders: 'Win the next election'
The ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol met with People Power Party leaders Friday and told them he hopes the party wins the presidential election to choose his successor. People Power Party leaders Reps. Kwon Young-se and Kweon Seong-dong met with Yoon at his residence in Yongsan, central Seoul, late Friday, hours after the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon's impeachment, thereby removing him from office. According to the People Power Party's chief spokesperson Rep. Shin Dong-uk, Yoon told the
April 4, 2025 -
Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law a constitutional breach: court
Yoon should have tried to resolve stalemate through political means, court says In an 8-0 ruling, the Constitutional Court on Friday found that impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol had committed "grave violations" by imposing martial law on Dec. 3, a standard that had determined former presidents' fate in previous impeachment cases. The ruling stated that Yoon's abuse of power in declaring martial law and other actions “constitute serious violations of the principles of democratic governance and th
April 4, 2025 -
What S. Korea's political leaders have to say about Yoon Suk Yeol’s ouster
South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Friday confirmed President Yoon Suk Yeol’s removal from office. This marks the second time in the nation’s history that a sitting president has been removed in the middle of his term by impeachment. Below are reactions from prominent political leaders and other notable individuals to the historic moment. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader, liberal Democratic Party of Korea Lee, the runner-up to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, is now the leading contender for
April 4, 2025 -
The verdict that removed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol from power
Below is an unofficial translation of the summary released by the Constitutional Court of Korea detailing its ruling Friday that upheld Yoon Suk Yeol's parliamentary impeachment, confirming his immediate removal as president. -- Ed. (Verdict read out by acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae) I will begin announcing the verdict on the 2024 impeachment case of President Yoon Suk Yeol. First, we will examine the conditions for legal validity. 1. We will look at whether the declaration of martial law
April 4, 2025 -
Foreign residents, global watchers hail S. Korea’s 'democracy in action'
South Korea’s historic decision to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office has sparked an outpouring of reactions from foreign residents and international observers, many of whom praised the Constitutional Court’s unanimous 8–0 ruling as a powerful demonstration of democratic accountability. “I’m happy about the verdict,” said Svenja, a German national who has lived in Seoul for six months. Speaking to The Korea Herald outside the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, where hundreds watche
April 4, 2025