Constitutional Court calls for completion of full 9-member bench

The Constitutional Court of Korea on Thursday continued to call for a completion of a full bench at the nine-seat court, for a swift proceeding of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial and other pending cases. The court’s vice press officer Cheon Jae-hyun said that the court views that a vacancy at the court is still “unresolved.” On Monday, acting President Choi Sang-mok deferred the appointment of Ma Eun-hyeok, one of two justice candidates nominated by the main opposition party, due to

Jan. 2, 2025

2 new justices add momentum to Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment trial

With South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok appointing two new justices to the Constitutional Court of Korea on Tuesday, the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to speed up, despite one vacancy remaining on the nine-seat court. The appointments give the court greater legitimacy in ruling on Yoon's case, while also eliminating perhaps the biggest obstacle to Yoon's impeachment, namely that with only six justices, to remove Yoon from office would require a unanimous ruling. W

Jan. 1, 2025

Majority of justices view impeachment vote on acting president as valid: court

The Constitutional Court of Korea, which is tasked with reviewing the impeachment cases of both President Yoon Suk Yeol and acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, said Monday that a majority of its justices view the National Assembly's impeachment of Han as valid. According to court press officer Lee Jin, the court regards Han's authority and power as acting president as "suspended" following parliament's passage of an impeachment motion against Han on Friday. "A majority of the justi

Dec. 30, 2024

Friday’s hearing can be held without Yoon’s or his lawyers’ attendance: court justice

Justices to hold an additional meeting on Thursday The Constitutional Court of South Korea said Tuesday that it could proceed with the preparatory hearing for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial set for Friday, even if Yoon or his legal representative fail to attend. The court’s justice Kim Hyeong-du, one of six justices tasked with either upholding or overturning Yoon’s impeachment before June 10, told reporters that the absence of Yoon or his lawyers would not necessarily be a roadbloc

Dec. 24, 2024

Court pushes ahead with hearing despite Yoon’s repeated refusal

Yoon prioritizes defending himself in Constitutional Court over investigations, confidant says The Constitutional Court of Korea said Monday that it would hold a preparatory hearing on Dec. 27 as planned, despite President Yoon Suk Yeol’s continued refusal to accept court orders. The court, which must deliver a final decision on Yoon’s impeachment within 180 days, said the six justices had decided to consider Yoon as having received the written requests on Dec. 20. “Based on the civil procedure

Dec. 23, 2024

Old meets new at cafes in Bukchon

Bukchon Hanok Village, nestled in the heart of northern Seoul, is a captivating blend of history and modernity. Home to over 900 traditional Korean houses, known as hanok, this picturesque neighborhood feels like stepping back in time. Here’s a guide to some of the standout cafes in Bukchon, where the charm of the old meets the allure of the new. Mirror Room 40 Samcheong-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul Opens daily 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Closes early on Mondays at 6 p.m.) Located across from the Nation

Dec. 21, 2024

National Assembly’s impeachment committee readies for 1st hearing next week

The South Korean National Assembly’s impeachment investigation committee, which will serve as a prosecutor in the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol, began preparations Friday for its first hearing set for Dec. 27. The panel, comprising 11 lawmakers from the three opposition parties and 17 legal representatives who will assist the lawmakers, held its second round of meetings on Friday. The People Power Party lawmakers expressed their intention not t

Dec. 20, 2024

Justices at Constitutional Court hold 1st meeting

The Constitutional Court of Korea, set to deliver a final decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment within 180 days, held its first closed-door meeting Thursday with six justices of the nine-seat court. At the meeting, justices were expected to share opinions on the resolution of whether to uphold or overturn Yoon’s impeachment. Their discussion was based on research conducted by a 10-member constitutional task force on the legal grounds and facts behind Yoon’s Dec. 3

Dec. 19, 2024

[Beyond the Screen] Seasoned producers discuss film industry's unprecedented challenges

As the global entertainment landscape undergoes a seismic shift, South Korea’s film industry stands at a critical juncture. For more than two decades, industry professionals have weathered countless changes -- from the growth of imported films to the debates on screen quotas and the rise of piracy. Yet, nothing compares to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Heads of South Korean production companies say the challenges range from dwindling content and investment to the need for

Dec. 19, 2024

Constitutional Court tells Yoon to submit Cabinet meeting minutes

The Constitutional Court of Korea said Wednesday that it had requested President Yoon Suk Yeol submit the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held just prior to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, as well as other evidence, by Dec. 24. The court, which is tasked with upholding or overturning Yoon’s impeachment, told the press that it sent an email to Yoon on Tuesday regarding the order and asked him to submit a copy of the martial law decree, a list of evidence and a plan to prove the case agai

Dec. 18, 2024