Main opposition regains its edge in party affiliation: Gallup Korea

Gallup Korea denies accusations that it fails to prevent overly sampling right-leaning respondents. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea regained its edge over the ruling People Power Party in terms of political party preferences, reflecting shifting public sentiment following the martial law declaration by conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol and his subsequent arrest. According to poll results released by Gallup Korea on Friday, 40 percent of 1,000 respondents identified as supporters

Jan. 24, 2025

Why didn't police hit back at violent protesters?

Sunday's mob attack on Seoul court exposes policing dilemma in Korea Sunday’s predawn protest by supporters of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol erupted into mob violence after a court issued the formal warrant to detain the president while he is under criminal investigation on charges of leading an insurrection and committing abuse of power. At around 3 a.m., approximately 1,300 supporters of the impeached president stormed the courthouse, hurling bricks and smashing glass and office equipment

Jan. 22, 2025

Acting president vetoes 3 contentious bills

Cabinet likely to hold special meeting next week to return special probe bill to parliament Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday vetoed three bills that the opposition-led National Assembly had passed. The bills vetoed at a Cabinet meeting, presided over by Choi at the Government Complex Seoul, included a revision of the Broadcasting Act. It aimed to reverse the government's move to charge separately for electricity and television licenses from public broadcasters

Jan. 21, 2025

Ruling party leads opposition rival in polls

The ruling conservative party led recent polls on South Koreans' political party preferences, with would-be voters showing a growing emphasis on the need for a smooth transition in a potentially upcoming presidential race. This shift comes amid a deeply divided political landscape following President Yoon Suk Yeol's arrest on Sunday. According to a Realmeter poll released on Monday, 48.6 percent of 1,004 respondents said they would likely support a candidate from the same party as President Yoon

Jan. 20, 2025

President Yoon Suk Yeol formally arrested as criminal trial awaits

Yoon refuses CIO questioning on Sunday; ruling bloc objects to court-issued warrant A criminal trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges related to the martial law debacle looms large, as a South Korean court issued a warrant on Sunday to place him under arrest for up to six months. Forty-seven days after Yoon declared martial law to crack down on his political opponents whom he described as "anti-state forces" -- although no armed conflict with a foreign country had occurred -- the 64-year-ol

Jan. 19, 2025

Court OKs continued detention of Yoon Suk Yeol over martial law fiasco

President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally arrested on Sunday after a South Korean court issued a warrant that would put him in custody for up to six months as investigative authorities look into his martial law imposition in December. According to the Seoul Western District Court, Yoon's release from prison could result in the destruction of evidence. The ruling means Yoon, 64, will likely go through the booking process, including having his fingerprints and photograph taken as he becomes an inmate o

Jan. 19, 2025

Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody

-Yoon, identified as insurrection leader, is exercising right to remain silent -Yoon is first sitting president taken into custody -Yoon says decided to appear for questioning to prevent ‘bloodshed’ -CIO mulls requesting warrant to extend detention -Massive operation with 1,100 officers ended without physical conflict SEOUL/GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in a large-scale law enforcement operation at the presidential residence Wednesday, on charges of mastermi

Jan. 15, 2025

A look into PSS under Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korea's Presidential Security Service, which had resisted efforts to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol, stepped aside Wednesday morning, opening the Yoon up to arrest and themselves to a new level of scrutiny

Jan. 15, 2025

[Breaking] President Yoon to appear for questioning by CIO today: lawyer

President Yoon Suk Yeol will appear before the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials today, his lawyer said Wednesday hours after the joint probe team entered the presidential residence in an attempt to detain him. Seok Dong-hyeon, Yoon's lawyer, made a statement on Facebook that the president has made an "unavoidable decision to appear," to prevent a physical clash between the security team and the police, and citizens being injured outside the residence. Seok added that th

Jan. 15, 2025

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody over martial law

President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken into custody by a joint probe team at 10:33 a.m. Wednesday, according to police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, 12 days after being repelled in its initial attempt to detain him. Yoon arrived at the CIO headquarters of the CIO in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, for questioning over his martial law declaration in December. Yoon, 64, became the first sitting president in South Korean history to be in custody. In the next 48 hours,

Jan. 15, 2025