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Acting president vows to address security challenges with allies in New Year's speech
Acting President Choi Sang-mok vowed to address security challenges on the Korean Peninsula by strengthening cooperation with South Korea's allies and partners, including the United States and Japan, in his New Year's speech on Tuesday. Choi, who is also South Korea's deputy prime minister and finance minister, said the joint defense posture between South Korea and the US will remain ironclad, capable of countering North Korea's nuclear threats and military cooperation between Pyongyang and Mosc
Dec. 31, 2024 -
Assembly launches special committee to probe Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree
South Korea's National Assembly on Tuesday launched a special committee to look into insurrection allegations related to President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. The plan for the special committee-led probe won parliamentary approval in a 191-71 vote. The parliament approved the 45-day special committee-led investigation into state administration at its plenary session Friday, following an agreement among the rival parties. The probe is to last until Feb. 13, an
Dec. 31, 2024 -
Why is identification of victims delayed?
Delayed transfer of remains suggests severity of damage to victims‘ bodies in Jeju Air crash MUAN, South Jeolla Province -- Two days have passed since the Jeju Air crash, but authorities are still struggling to release victims' remains to families due to the extent of the damage. Among 179 victims, only four individuals, whose bodies remained "intact," were handed over to the families after the bereaved confirmed the victims' identities on Monday night. The remaining bodies were severely damaged
Dec. 31, 2024 -
Court issues arrest warrant to detain Yoon
A Seoul court approved a request from investigative authorities to detain South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, making him the first sitting president to face arrest in Korea's constitutional history. The Seoul Western District Court on Tuesday issued the warrant against Yoon on charges of leading and organizing the martial law declaration in early December as well as abuse of power, according to legal sources. The court’s decision comes a d
Dec. 31, 2024 -
Muan filled with desperation, grief
Grieving family members form unspoken bond overnight, agree to hold funerals together once identification is completed MUAN, South Jeolla Province -- The night stretched endlessly for hundreds of grieving family members as they waited for authorities to confirm the identities of their loved ones lost in the tragic plane crash. As the names of the victims were announced through microphones one by one, screams of desperation filled the air. At Muan International Airport, where a plane crashed on l
Dec. 30, 2024 -
Opposition toys with possibility of another impeachment
The Democratic Party of Korea upped the pressure on Choi Sang-mok, South Korea’s second acting president in a month, to accept National Assembly motions to launch two special counsel investigations of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law bid and his wife Kim Keon Hee’s suspected stock price manipulation. Choi has two days to decide whether to veto the motions passed by the Democratic Party, which holds well over half of the seats in the Assembly. Rep. Park Sung-joon, who is part of th
Dec. 30, 2024 -
Arrest warrant sought for Yoon
Arrest warrant sought for sitting president for first time in constitutional history A joint investigation team said Monday that it will seek an arrest warrant for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived declaration of martial law early in the month, after he snubbed three previous summonses to be questioned. The joint investigative unit, consisting of the Korean National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Offi
Dec. 30, 2024 -
Political leaders visit Muan airport
Leaders from both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea visited Muan International Airport on Monday, following a tragic airplane crash that claimed 179 lives, to express their condolences and address the aftermath of the incident. On Monday morning, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party’s acting chair and floor leader, alongside other party members, visited the site to assess the situation and pay respects at the memorial altar. The ruling party
Dec. 30, 2024 -
North Jeolla provincial govt. to set up memorial altar for victims of Jeju Air crash
The North Jeolla provincial government said Monday it will set up a joint memorial altar for the victims of this week's Jeju Air plane crash that killed 179 people. The altar will be set up at 2 p.m. inside the provincial government's office building in Jeonju, some 190 kilometers south of Seoul, and remain open until the end of the seven-day national mourning period Saturday. "We are creating a space where people can pay their respects and commemorate the victims of this tragedy," a provincial
Dec. 30, 2024 -
President Yoon breaks silence with condolences for Muan tragedy
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport, marking his first public statement since his executive powers were suspended. In a Facebook post uploaded at around 6:40 p.m. Sunday, Yoon expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims' families. "I am deeply saddened and devastated by this tragedy," he wrote. "I extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to those who lost their loved ones and to the bereaved fam
Dec. 29, 2024 -
Crisis after crisis: Plane crash tests acting president's administration
The administration of acting President Choi Sang-mok has been put to the test as it grapples with a deadly plane crash at an airport in the southwestern county of Muan, South Jeolla Province, amid the political turmoil and leadership vacuum stemming from President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. The crash of a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 passengers at Muan International Airport came just two days after Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok was appointed interim leader. Choi beca
Dec. 29, 2024 -
Impeachment feud pauses in wake of deadly plane crash
Parties hit pause on wrangling over impeachment and came together Sunday, as South Korea began grieving for victims of a plane crash that is presumed to have killed most onboard, according to the latest update from fire authorities. The plane carrying 181 passengers and crew members crashed upon landing at an airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, early Sunday, leading both major parties -- the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea -- to convene emergency response meetings and of
Dec. 29, 2024 -
Constitutional Court under mounting pressure over impeachment cases
The Constitutional Court on Sunday faced mounting pressure over deliberations on multiple impeachment cases, including those of President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, as it needs to make major decisions under an approaching deadline. With three seats still vacant on the nine-member bench, the court on Friday received a new impeachment case involving Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had served as acting president after President Yoon’s impeachment on Dec. 14. The opposition-led
Dec. 29, 2024 -
Ex-defense chief gives testimony to CIO; Yoon snubs summons again
Investigators reviewing insurrection and power abuse accusations against President Yoon Suk Yeol have received testimony from former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is suspected of conspiring with the president and relaying Yoon's orders to military commanders during his ill-fated martial law decree on Dec. 3-4. The president was ordered to appear for questioning by 10 a.m. on Sunday, but did not comply with the order, as was the case with two previous summonses. The Corruption Investigation
Dec. 29, 2024 -
Ruling party cries foul over opposition-led impeachment of acting President Han
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Saturday denounced the opposition-led impeachment of acting President Han Duck-soo as an attempt to bring down the government, saying that his impeachment should be nullified. The opposition-lead National Assembly voted Friday to impeach Han less than two weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over his botched imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. Han was suspended from duties, with Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok assuming office as acting presiden
Dec. 28, 2024