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Yoon to attend hearing of impeachment trial Tuesday
President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend the hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, his lawyers said Monday. The court is set to hold the third hearing on the impeachment trial at 2 p.m. on Tuesday to review evidence submitted by the National Assembly related to his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. It would mark the first time for an impeached president to personally appear at a Constitutional Court trial. (Yonhap)
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Yoon moved to solitary cell at Seoul Detention Center
Detained President Yoon Suk Yeol has been moved to a solitary cell at the Seoul Detention Center's general wing after he was placed under formal arrest over the weekend, a correctional official said Monday. Yoon was transferred to the 12-square-meter cell at the detention center in Uiwang, south of Seoul, on Sunday after the Seoul Western District Court issued a warrant for his formal arrest, according to Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service. Yoon will be referre
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Acting President Choi orders measures as ultrafine dust hits Seoul, Chungcheong areas
Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Monday directed relevant government agencies to implement emergency environmental measures as ultrafine dust warnings were issued for parts of the country. Choi instructed the environment ministry and provincial governments, among others, to implement dust reduction measures, mandating high-emission facilities and construction sites to modify or reduce their operating hours to protect workers. He also mandated that these measures be communicated to the public. T
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Military commanders linked to martial law case dismissed from positions
The military on Monday approved the official dismissal of four senior commanders suspected of taking part in impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial imposition from their positions. The decision made at disciplinary committees of the defense ministry and the Army, respectively, affects Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung, head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command; Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho, head of the Defense Intelligence Command; Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, head of the Capital Defense Command;
Jan. 20, 2025 -
CIO investigators visit detention center as Yoon rejects questioning again
The state anti-corruption agency on Monday dispatched six investigators to the detention center where impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been under arrest as he continues to defy orders to appear for further questioning over his failed martial law bid. Yoon, held at the Seoul Detention Center since last Wednesday and placed under formal arrest Sunday, snubbed an order by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials to appear for questioning at 10 a.m., the second day in a ro
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Journalists' groups decry violence against reporters in court attack
Multiple journalists among 83 injured in unprecedented attack on court Nine local journalists' groups on Friday condemned Sunday's violent attack on the Seoul Western District Court by supporters of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, during which several members of the press were physically assaulted by the mob and their equipment damaged or stolen by them. In a joint press conference held by nine groups, including the Journalists Association of Korea, the journalists urged strict punishment of
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Report of Chinese spies rigging election 'entirely false': USFK
The United States Forces Korea on Monday denied online media reports of 99 Chinese spies being captured by the US and South Korean military and confessing to election rigging, saying the notion is "entirely false." “The depiction of US forces and the allegations in the mentioned ROK media articles are entirely false. US Forces Korea remains committed to its mission of maintaining stability and security on the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. We urge responsib
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Starbucks Korea raises prices again: Tall Americano hits 4,700 won
US coffee giant latest to impose price hikes, adding to growing burden on coffee-loving Koreans Koreans will soon pay more for Starbucks, as the chain announced a price hike Monday for 22 beverages, effective Jan. 24. The price of its signature tall Americano, the most popular item on the menu, will increase by 200 won to 4,700 won ($3.25). This marks Starbucks Korea’s third price increase in just five months, reflecting rising coffee beans and operations costs. However, for its two best-selling
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Revoking driver's license for dementia takes as long as 10 months: report
Under South Korean law, driving privileges are revoked for those diagnosed with dementia, but a report Monday by a local lawmaker showed the revocation process can take as long as 10 months. The Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act states in Article 42 that those with medical conditions that impede safe driving -- such as dementia, schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder -- are not allowed to obtain a driver's license, or are subject to revocation if they already have one. But taking
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Which charges are in store for court rioters?
Riot, obstruction of public duties charges obvious, insurrection charges possible, says former judge Those responsible for Sunday's attack on the Seoul Western District Court are expected to face a series of criminal charges ranging from riot and obstruction of the performance of public duties, to breaking and entering of a government building, to possibly insurrection, according to legal experts here. Former judge and lawyer Oh Ji-won said in a media interview Monday that Sunday's attack could
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Why are more young S. Korean men turning up at pro-Yoon protests?
Hatred, distrust of Democratic Party motivates young men to support Yoon: experts Since the South Korean National Assembly approved the bill to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, large-scale protests have erupted across the country, with pro- and anti-Yoon demonstrators calling for either his criminal punishment or his reinstatement as president. Anti-Yoon protests have seen a notable increase in young female participants, while pro-Yoon protests have drawn a large number of men in
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Special counsel bill without bipartisan backing faces likely veto
The Democratic Party of Korea's efforts to open a special counsel investigation of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration are likely to be unsuccessful. It is up to Choi Sang-mok, acting president and the deputy prime minister, to decide whether to accept the Democratic Party-led special counsel investigation bill that passed the Assembly last week or veto it. But as the bill was not passed on a bipartisan basis, Choi is likely to send it back to the Assembly. The Democratic Party on
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Seoul court mob challenges Korea’s rule of law
Mob attack marks first major incident of unauthorized entry and violence at Korean court since 1990s Sunday's violent incursion at a Seoul court that approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, left an estimated 83 injured and 87 arrested. It was the first time in 35 years that a crowd stormed and vandalized court property. Though individuals have occasionally attempted personal attacks on judges out of resentment over rulings, Sunday’s attack involved physical confrontations and the
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Trump takes office as Korean presidency stuck in limbo
US President Donald Trump is set to be sworn into office Monday during an inauguration ceremony at the Capitol, evoking memories of his first term in 2017, when South Korea, a key Asian ally, was led by an acting president following the suspension of then-President Park Geun-hye. But this time, Seoul’s political crisis has reached levels far beyond 2017. President Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting leader arrested after his failed martial law declaration on Dec. 3, now awaiting the Constitut
Jan. 20, 2025 -
CIO resorts to forced summons; Yoon likely to be indicted in early Feb.
Police attempt to raid safe house, PSS office to secure footage of who Yoon met with before, after martial law declaration GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- The lead agency of the joint investigation team probing President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to forcibly bring him in for questioning Monday afternoon, as he has refused to comply with an investigation on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, despite being detained. The team suspended the efforts at around 9 p.m. as Yoon continued to refuse.
Jan. 20, 2025