Convenience stores see uptick in sales following martial law declaration

South Korea’s 24-hour convenience stores saw an uptick in sales of essential items during the initial hours of shock following the martial law declaration Tuesday night, local reports said. According to Yonhap News Agency, citing local industry sources, during the one-hour period from 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, when martial law took effect, sales of daily necessities skyrocketed compared to regular days. One convenience store chain, whose name was not disclosed, reported the highest uptick in c

Dec. 4, 2024

Defense minister, Yoon high school alumnus, named as mastermind of martial law plot

Who planted the ill-advised idea of martial law in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s mind? As of noon Wednesday, roughly 8 hours after military rule was officially dropped following a parliamentary motion to revoke it, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun appears to have been the key figure. The Defense Ministry confirmed Wednesday that Kim, who assumed his role in September this year, had proposed the declaration of emergency martial law to the president through the prime minister. By law, either the

Dec. 4, 2024

'I'm sorry': Soldier mobilized by martial law seen apologizing to citizens

One of the soldiers mobilized during the martial law declared on Tuesday was seen apologizing to citizens, in a YouTube video posted by a local journalist early Wednesday. Heo Jae-hyeon, an investigative reporter, posted a video of the South Korean troops leaving the National Assembly in the early hours of Wednesday. One of the soldiers who crossed paths with Heo and others gathered at the building -- most of whom were there to protest President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law -- bowed his he

Dec. 4, 2024

Soldiers rumored to have been given live ammunition during martial law

A photo of soldiers mobilized during martial law suggests that the military armed them with live ammunition, a local media outlet reported Wednesday. Kyunghang Shinmun revealed a photo, which it received from one of its readers, that showed Army soldiers sitting next to what appear to be boxes of live bullets at the National Assembly sometime between late Tuesday and early Wednesday. Another photo showed a soldier carrying what is believed to be a box of ammunition while entering the legislature

Dec. 4, 2024

South Korean media call for Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation, arrest

"This is no mere criticism -- we're waging war against President Yoon Suk Yeol." These words rang out outside the Korea Press Center in central Seoul Wednesday morning, where media representatives had gathered to condemn Yoon's overnight attempt to place press operations under military control as part of his extraordinary emergency martial law decree. The press conference reaffirmed the media's unequivocal opposition to the martial law decree that, though short-lived,

Dec. 4, 2024

Religious groups denounce ‘antidemocratic’ martial law order

Religious groups in South Korea joined a growing voice denouncing the short-lived martial law order that lasted about three hours through early Wednesday. “We the Methodists cannot be but shocked at the sudden martial law proclamation. It’s an affront to democracy,” said Kim Chung-suk, president bishop of the Korea Methodist Church, which represents some 1.2 million Methodists in Korea. “The martial law is a betrayal of the trust people have given to the government. And i

Dec. 4, 2024

Police chief ordered to be on standby 4 hours before martial law declaration

The Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho reportedly received an order from the South Korean Presidential Office to “be on standby” four hours before the emergency martial law was declared late Tuesday. According to local media reports, Cho reportedly received an order from the Presidential Office around 6:20 p.m., Tuesday, to “be on standby until further notice.” At 10:20 p.m., South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, to go into

Dec. 4, 2024

'Not a single shot fired': World reactions to Korean martial law drama

The six-hour high-stakes political drama that unfolded in Seoul from Tuesday to Wednesday left onlookers worldwide scrambling for answers. On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, reactions poured in. For many, the sequence of events seemed dizzying. One viral post by user @MyLordBebo, titled “Summary of the crazy events in South Korea,” garnered over 945,000 views, accompanied by a video of armed soldiers clashing with lawmakers in the National Assembly. In response to this p

Dec. 4, 2024

Supreme Court to examine legality of martial law declaration

Chief Justice of the South Korean Supreme Court Cho Hee-dae told reporters on Wednesday that the Supreme Court will review the procedures that were followed in President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law late Tuesday, affirming that the judiciary will “steadfastly fulfill its role during challenging times.” “The judiciary will ensure its role as the ultimate protector of the citizens’ rights and freedoms, and will work to alleviate any concerns about judicia

Dec. 4, 2024

What political bigwigs had to say about martial law drama

Here are what some of South Korea’s prominent political figures had to say about Tuesday night’s martial law drama initiated by President Yoon Suk Yeol and ended by the National Assembly, controlled by Yoon's political foes. Han Dong-hoon, chair of the ruling People Power Party - "(Yoon) should immediately sack the minister of national defense, and hold liable anyone who is responsible." * The defense minister was identified as the key person who advised Yoon

Dec. 4, 2024

Yoon Suk Yeol postpones meeting on drug control

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday postponed his plan to attend a meeting to review drug control measures, according to the presidential office, hours after he agreed to the parliament's request to revoke martial law. "The meeting to assess the current status of drug control measures, originally set to take place at the presidential office, has been rescheduled," an official said.

Dec. 4, 2024

[Graphic News] 60% of job seekers in S. Korea ‘passive’: survey

A recent survey by the Federation of Korean Industries reveals that six out of ten job seekers in South Korea are classified as “passive job seekers” with low expectations for employment. The 2024 University Student Employment Perception Survey, conducted among 2,938 students and graduates from four-year universities nationwide, found that 1,235 respondents were preparing for employment. Of these, 60.5 percent were categorized as passive job seekers. Passive job-seeking behavior wa

Dec. 4, 2024

Full text of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreeing to lift martial law

Below is a full, unofficial translation of President Yoon Suk Yeol's statement issued on Wednesday, announcing that the declaration of emergency martial law is lifted. Last night at 11 p.m., I declared a state of emergency martial law with a determined will to save the nation, in response to anti-state forces that were paralyzing the essential functions of the state and undermining the liberal democratic constitutional order. However, just a moment ago, the National Assembly requested t

Dec. 4, 2024

Schools to operate normally despite martial law declaration: ministry

Following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law on Dec. 3, the Ministry of Education has officially confirmed that schools will operate as usual on Wednesday. In a statement issued late this evening, a Ministry of Education spokesperson clarified, “Despite the declaration of martial law, there are currently no directives or restrictions that would necessitate school closures. Classes will proceed as scheduled tomorrow.” This announcement comes amid a wa

Dec. 4, 2024

[From the Scene] Rush to get to National Assembly in first hours of martial law

In the hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared in South Korea at around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, chaos ensued west of Yeouido in central Seoul as lawmakers, aides and reporters rushed to get to the National Assembly. Soon after Yoon announced he would impose martial law, police squads began surrounding the gates of the legislature. At this point, people could enter at checkpoints if they presented their passes. Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Byung-kee, running up flights of stairs, could be

Dec. 4, 2024

Seoul police agency issues level B emergency following martial law

Following South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of an emergency martial law late Tuesday, the Korean National Police Agency issued a level B emergency for all police officials, effective as of 1 a.m., Wednesday. A Level B Emergency is a part of the police’s emergency response system, activated during escalating public security crises or other emergencies. When this level is declared, police officials and leading commanders must remain within their command locations and m

Dec. 3, 2024

S. Korea reports 2 additional avian influenza cases at regional farms

South Korea has confirmed two more cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at regional farms, bringing the season's total to seven, according to the government Tuesday. Authorities said the cases were reported at a duck farm in Gangjin in South Jeolla Province, 410 kilometers south of Seoul, and a chicken farm in Sejong, 113 kilometers south of Seoul. The farm owners reported an unusual increase in livestock deaths the previous day, prompting quarantine authorities to conduct detailed

Dec. 3, 2024

Shooting sensation Kim Ye-ji named among BBC's 100 women of 2024

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Kim Ye-ji, an Olympic shooting silver medalist who went viral during the Paris Summer Games, has been included on the BBC's list of the 100 most influential and inspirational women this year. The British broadcaster announced its annual list of remarkable women Tuesday under the theme of "resilience" this year, which also included fellow South Korean Park Soo-bin, founder of Stair Crusher Club, a project on wheelchair accessibility. "Charisma and s

Dec. 3, 2024

Ex-PPP lawmaker, political broker indicted in election nomination scandal probe

CHANGWON -- Kim Young-sun, a former five-term lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party, was indicted by prosecutors Tuesday, along with Myung Tae-kyun, a political broker at the center of a growing election nomination scandal involving the ruling party. The Changwon District Prosecutors' Office said Kim and Myung were indicted and detained on charges of violating the Political Funds Act in the past. Prosecutors allege that Kim offered Myung 80.7 million won ($57,540) between August 2022

Dec. 3, 2024

4 dead, 4 injured as truck crashes into rental car in Jeju

JEJU -- Four people died and four others were injured after a truck crashed into a rental car on the southern resort island of Jeju on Tuesday, police said. The accident occurred at 3:58 p.m. in Jeju's Seogwipo, as the 1-ton truck and the rental minivan collided on a two-lane road. Four of the six passengers in the minivan were transported to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest but died. Two others in the minivan and two riding in the truck sustained minor and serious injuries. Some of the

Dec. 3, 2024