Court issues arrest warrant for ex-defense minister on insurrection charges

A court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges of helping President Yoon Suk Yeol stage an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law last week. The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant at the request of the prosecution, who accused Kim of engaging in "essential" activities in insurrection and abuse of power in connection with Yoon's declaration of martial law last Tuesday. The warrant's issuance

Dec. 11, 2024

Finance ministry vows swift execution of 2025 budget

The government will make every effort to prepare for the swift execution of next year's budget to help stabilize people's livelihoods and respond to external uncertainties, the finance ministry said Tuesday. The ministry issued the statement shortly after the National Assembly passed next year's national budget of 673.3 trillion won ($471.5 billion), following a 4.1 trillion-won cut by the main opposition Democratic Party. "The government will make every effort to prepare for

Dec. 10, 2024

Culture minister urges opposition to halt impeachment of Cabinet ministers

The culture minister on Tuesday called on opposition parties to refrain from impeaching two Cabinet ministers overseeing the nation's legal and security matters in connection with President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration, warning such actions could destabilize the government. Speaking in his capacity as the government spokesperson at the main government building in Seoul, Yu In-chon issued a public statement emphasizing the need for stability in state governance. &

Dec. 10, 2024

‘Drag lawmakers out’: Yoon’s chilling order to commander

Dozens of generals and military leaders attended a questioning session by the Assembly national defense committee on Tuesday, a week after troops stormed the parliament grounds overnight on Dec. 3-4. One by one, key commanders testified against Yoon on his aborted bid to impose martial law. In a shocking revelation, Special Warfare Commander Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-geun claimed to have received a call from Yoon, who told him to “break open the door, and drag the lawmakers out.” “The

Dec. 10, 2024

Lawsuit eyes W100,000 per person in damage compensation from Yoon

Two lawyers are recruiting plaintiffs for a lawsuit against President Yoon Suk Yeol, seeking compensation of 100,000 won ($70) per individual for alleged psychological damages stemming from his declaration of martial law. They argue Yoon’s actions during the martial law incident violated constitutional principles and caused public distress. The lawsuit is led by two attorneys: Lee Geum-kyu, who represented the National Assembly during the impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye

Dec. 10, 2024

Signs surface that martial law plotted well in advance

Senior officers of the military were ordered to be on standby for a North Korea-related situation in the days leading up to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, in another sign that the events that unfolded on Dec. 3 were plotted in advance. Colonel-level commanders were called to be on guard for an imminent provocation by North Korea on Dec. 1, two days before Yoon declared martial law, according to Maj. Gen. Lee Kyung-min. Speaking before the National Assembly on Tuesday

Dec. 10, 2024

Assembly passes reduced budget plan, special counsel

The opposition-led National Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill to downsize next year's government budget by 4.1 trillion won ($2.9 billion) to 673.3 trillion won, marking the first time in constitutional history that the annual budget plan was passed without bipartisan agreement. The bill, introduced by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, passed in a 183-94 vote with one abstention during Tuesday's session. The downsized plan slashes next year's budget by 4.1 trillion wo

Dec. 10, 2024

Prosecutors tighten grip on Kim

South Korean prosecutors filed an arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, accusing him of collaborating with President Yoon Suk Yeol to orchestrate an insurrection in the controversial Dec. 3 martial law declaration. This marks a significant development in the investigation, as prosecutors identify Yoon as the central figure behind the alleged coup attempt. Kim, summoned by the special prosecution investigation team for questioning on insurrection, abuse of power and other char

Dec. 10, 2024

Will ruling party lawmakers change course?

The ruling People Power Party may shift its stance on its group boycott and allow a free vote, as some young conservative politicians signal their intent to participate in the second impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday. After the previous scrapped impeachment vote on Dec. 7, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung announced the following day that he would continue to hold Yoon accountable for insurrection following his martial law decree

Dec. 10, 2024

Lawmakers call for reforms to limit martial law risks

President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden, fleeting invocation of martial law has sparked a wave of urgent calls from lawmakers to reform the martial law act, aimed at preventing presidential overreach and safeguarding the National Assembly’s ability to function even under a state of martial law. A total of 11 proposed amendments to the Martial Law Act have been submitted after the Assembly was besieged and infiltrated by armed special forces during Yoon's late-night declaration of emerge

Dec. 10, 2024

Angry voters want lawmakers to heed their call. But how, with election years away?

Voter outrage is intensifying in South Korea, after the parliament failed to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol, despite overwhelming public demand to immediately remove him from office over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. The anger is mainly directed at lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling party who boycotted the impeachment vote Saturday. In doing so, they opted to keep the embattled president, now a suspect of insurrection, in office, while they devise an exit strategy that minimizes the da

Dec. 10, 2024

Ruling party reviews plan for Yoon's resignation by end-April next year

The ruling People Power Party is reviewing two scenarios to bring about "political stabilization," both involving the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol by end-April next year, reports said Tuesday. People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon received a draft proposal from an intra-party task force launched Monday intending to achieve "political stabilization," that called for the president to step down in either March or April, according to Yonhap New Agency. The next preside

Dec. 10, 2024

Unification minister vows efforts for stable peninsula

Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho said Tuesday that he "will make every effort to ensure the stable management of the situation on the Korean Peninsula" in his first public remarks since President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law declaration. "I will carry out my duties with the utmost vigilance and without any lapse until my final day in office at this critical juncture, where inter-Korean relations are grave and uncertainties in the external environment are mounting,"

Dec. 10, 2024

Police to summon PM, ministers over martial law meeting

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, along with other Cabinet members and the head of the National Intelligence Service, has been summoned for questioning by the National Office of Investigation, regarding their attendance at a Cabinet meeting held after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration. The special investigation team under the office stated Tuesday, “If the accused refuse to appear, we will promptly proceed with legal measures, including forced investigation.

Dec. 10, 2024

Timing of next presidential election linked to 'legal risks' of opposition leader

With President Yoon Suk Yeol seemingly edging toward impeachment, the nation is eyeing the next logical move of electing his replacement. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, is the clear front-runner in that race, multiple polls suggest. But the runner-up in the last presidential election by a tiny margin, Lee has his own legal challenges regarding another bid for the top office. He still faces criminal charges related to his respective terms as mayor of Seo

Dec. 10, 2024

Next impeachment vote may pass, Reform Party floor leader says

The second parliamentary vote to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, scheduled to take place Saturday, will likely pass, a minor party’s floor leader predicted. Rep. Cheon Ha-ram of the minor conservative Reform Party, made this prediction in a local radio interview Monday afternoon, saying that more than eight lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party will vote in favor of Yoon’s removal from office. The first vote on Yoon’s impeachment failed amid a boycott of PPP la

Dec. 10, 2024

Defense intelligence general suspended for martial law involvement

An Army major general who previously led the Defense Intelligence Command has been suspended from duty, following allegations of involvement in the recent short-lived martial law declaration, the Defense Ministry announced Tuesday. "The Defense Ministry suspended Gen. Moon Sang-ho, commander of the Korea Defense Intelligence Command, from his duty effective Dec. 10, due to confirmed involvement to the ongoing situation," the ministry's spokesperson office stated in a text messag

Dec. 10, 2024

[Bills in Focus] Strengthening shareholder rights, clearer M&A transparency

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act Proposed by Rep. Lee Jung-mun (Democratic Party of Korea) ● To better protect the interests of general shareholders, this amendment broadens the scope of directors' duty of loyalty to include both the company and its shareholders. Additionally, it mandates that large publicly listed companies adopt cumulative voting for the election of directors and introduce electronic shareholder meetings to improve transparency and fairness in corpor

Dec. 10, 2024

Court set to hold arrest warrant hearing for ex-defense minister over martial law declaration

A Seoul court is set to decide Tuesday whether to issue an arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun over his role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration in what would be the first court judgment on the case. Kim is suspected of having colluded with Yoon to stage an insurrection as Yoon declared emergency martial law last Tuesday, which was rejected by the National Assembly and lifted hours later. The Seoul Central District Court is set to convene a hearing to r

Dec. 10, 2024

Police chief slapped with exit ban in martial law probe

Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, and two other top police officials have been banned from leaving the country in connection with the ongoing police investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law last week, the National Office of Investigation said Tuesday. The NOI said its special investigation team also imposed an overseas travel ban on Kim Bong-sik, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and Mok Hyun-tae, hea

Dec. 10, 2024