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Yoon to attend arrest warrant hearing to explain legitimacy of martial law at Seoul court
Legal representatives of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol said Saturday that Yoon has decided to attend a court hearing for an arrest warrant against him to explain the legitimacy of his short-lived martial law decree. Yun Gap-keun, one of Yoon's legal representatives, made the notification in a text message sent to reporters. The lawyer said Yoon made the decision to explain the legitimacy of the martial law declaration and restore his tarnished reputation as well after the botched martial law
Jan. 18, 2025 -
2 Presidential Security Service leaders questioned over blocking arrest of Yoon
Two senior officials of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) appeared for police questioning Saturday over allegations that they led efforts to block investigators from detaining President Yoon Suk Yeol. Kim Seong-hoon, acting chief of the PSS, and Lee Kwang-woo, head of the agency's bodyguard division, arrived at the National Office of Investigation's headquarters in western Seoul for questioning at 9:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m., respectively. The two, both known as loyalists to Yoon, are accused
Jan. 18, 2025 -
Court to decide on Yoon's formal arrest as early as Saturday night
A Seoul court is set to decide as early as Saturday night whether to formally arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law decree. The Seoul Western District Court is scheduled to hold a hearing at 2 p.m. to review a request by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for an arrest warrant to be issued against Yoon. If issued, Yoon would become the first sitting president in South Korea's constitutional history to be formally arrested. Sho
Jan. 18, 2025 -
S. Korea opens embassy in Cuba, 11 months after ties forged
South Korea officially inaugurated its embassy in Havana on Friday, hosting an opening ceremony less than a year after the two nations formalized diplomatic ties on Feb. 14, 2024. The embassy is situated in the Miramar district, renowned for its cluster of embassy compounds, including those of the United States, Canada, China and other countries, serving as a hub for international diplomacy. South Korea's embassy in Cuba becomes the 117th diplomatic mission located in the island nation. Opening
Jan. 18, 2025 -
Record-high female employment sees profound jump among ages 30-34
South Korea's female employment in 2023 marked an all-time high of 54.1 percent, government data showed Friday as women aged 30-34 saw the most significant growth out of all age groups compared to a decade ago. A total of 12.46 million women were employed in South Korea in 2023, with overall female employment increasing from 48.9 percent in 2013, according to the joint report from the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Male employment inched up from
Jan. 18, 2025 -
Rival parties struggle to reach agreement on special counsel bill to probe Yoon's insurrection charges
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Friday discussed their respective bills on launching a special counsel probe into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid, but little progress was made in reaching a compromise. PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong and his DP counterpart, Park Chan-dae, attended the meeting, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. All eyes were on whether the two rival parties can narrow t
Jan. 17, 2025 -
Top military officer inspects readiness posture against N.K. threats near NLL
South Korea's top military officer on Friday visited the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command and a radar site under the command to inspect its readiness posture against North Korean threats near the western inter-Korean maritime border, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo visited the naval command in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, where he paid respects at a monument built in remembrance of 46 sailors who were killed during the 2010 sinking of the Cheonan corvet
Jan. 17, 2025 -
Yoon's arrest fuels massive earnings for Korean political YouTubers
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol being taken into custody on Wednesday, a first for a sitting president, has turned into a financial jackpot for political YouTubers. As public interest in Yoon’s dramatic fall from power surged, YouTube channels broadcasting live coverage of protests and legal developments saw donations pour in through the platform’s Super Chat feature, exposing a growing trend of monetizing political crises. Progressive channel tops global Superchat earnings Progressive cha
Jan. 17, 2025 -
Twice-failed martial law probe bill passes Assembly
Democratic Party of Korea agrees to remove accusations of warmongering The bill for opening a special counsel investigation into the now-detained President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law declaration last month passed late Friday, after the Democratic Party of Korea revised it to remove the contested accusations that the president was trying to provoke a war with North Korea. The Democratic Party, which controls the Assembly’s 170 seats to the rival People Power Party’s 108, voted to pass th
Jan. 17, 2025 -
CIO files arrest warrant against Yoon Suk Yeol on insurrection
Yoon becomes the first sitting president to face arrest warrant The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials on Friday officially filed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the first time in South Korea's constitutional history that an incumbent president has faced such legal action. The warrant was submitted to the Seoul Western District Court around 5:40 p.m., just 45 days after Yoon's Dec. 3 martial law declaration and two days after his detention. The pres
Jan. 17, 2025 -
First lady Kim Keon Hee's health declining: reports
Opposition parties call for investigation into first Lady Following South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest on Wednesday, first lady Kim Keon Hee, who remains alone at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, has been suffering from deteriorating health, media reports said Friday. Citing officials from the presidential office, local media reported Friday that those who met Kim have expressed concerns about her health, describing her as “looking worryingly emaciated.” Those close t
Jan. 17, 2025 -
North Korea reports on Yoon being taken into custody as first sitting president
North Korea’s state media on Friday reported on impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s detention by the South’s anti-corruption agency over his botched Dec. 3 martial law imposition. "The international community is shining a spotlight on the chaotic situation in puppet South Korea by publishing breaking news on puppet Yoon Suk Yeol's detention as a sitting president for the first time and his transfer to investigative authorities," reported the Rodong Sinmun, Pyongyang’s daily newspaper for general
Jan. 17, 2025 -
People Power Party lead in polls puzzles Democratic Party of Korea
The Democratic Party of Korea is behind the rival People Power Party in a major poll, in a turnaround since the martial law declaration last month by President Yoon Suk Yeol who is now detained under custody of anti-corruption investigative authorities. According to the Gallup Korea poll released Friday, the People Power Party's favorability ratings stood at 39 percent, three percentage points ahead of the Democratic Party’s 36 percent. This is the latest in a series of polls this month that fou
Jan. 17, 2025 -
President's arrest draws near
An extended arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared imminent, as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials' investigation is in the final stages of filing the warrant for Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power. This move, expected to be executed Friday afternoon, would mark the first instance in South Korea’s history where a sitting president faces formal arrest. A CIO official confirmed that while the exact timing of the warrant
Jan. 17, 2025 -
S. Korean military official urges international cooperation against NK-Russia alliance threats
The head of strategic planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff called for “close coordination” among the international community against threats stemming from North Korea’s military support to Russia at a recent NATO meeting. The JCS said Friday that Lt. Gen. Son Jeong-hwan, head of strategic planning for the South Korean military, explained to top military officials around the world, that “North Korea’s recent military support to Russia and missile launch provocations are becoming a big threat to
Jan. 17, 2025