Yoon denies insurrection, seeks release as trial opens

President Yoon Suk Yeol's attorneys defended his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, denied the charge that he led an insurrection, and argued that his detention was unlawful, during a pretrial heraing of his criminal trial at the Seoul Central District Court. The hearing, which began at 10 a.m., saw prosecutors and lawyers for Yoon make arguments, file lists of evidence and witnesses, and set the schedule for his criminal trial, which will take place separately from his impeachment trial. Though

Feb. 20, 2025

What to expect at President Yoon Suk Yeol's criminal trial

Insurrection leader charge ruling expected by July, life sentence looms On Thursday, for the first time in South Korean history, a sitting president will be tried in a court of criminal law, beginning another high-profile legal battle against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is charged with leading an insurrection and abuse of power. Thursday's pretrial hearing at the Seoul Central District Court will mark the start of a trial that could last up to six months, feature key witnesses, and le

Feb. 19, 2025

Jamsil Station remains Seoul’s busiest subway station in 2024

Jamsil Station is the busiest subway station in the Seoul Metro system in terms of daily users, recording the highest ridership with 156,177 per day, Seoul Metropolitan Government data showed Wednesday. Among the 273 stations on Seoul Subway Line Nos. 1 to 8, Jamsil Station retained its position as the subway station with the highest passenger traffic for a second consecutive year. Jamsil Station, located in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul, has seen a continued surge in passengers due to the extension

Feb. 19, 2025

The legal bigwigs backing Yoon

President Yoon Suk Yeol's criminal trial begins Thursday, with the embattled leader to be defended by a team of 11 high-profile lawyers with distinguished legal and political careers. The latest addition to the team is Hwang Kyo-ahn, who was prime minister under former President Park Geun-hye and served as acting president when Park was impeached over a corruption scandal. Hwang reportedly notified the Seoul Central District Court of his appointment as Yoon’s lawyer in early February. Despite hi

Feb. 19, 2025

Police raid ex-interior minister’s residence, offices

Police on Tuesday launched a raid on the home and offices of former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min in Seoul and Sejong as part of an investigation into insurrection charges, including allegations that he ordered cuts to power and water supplies for local media outlets and broadcasters on Dec. 3. The Korean National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation said it simultaneously conducted a search and seizure of the offices of Fire Commissioner Heo Seok-gon and Deputy Fire Commissioner Le

Feb. 18, 2025

Yoon’s legal battles intensify as dual hearings loom Feb. 20

President Yoon Suk Yeol will face two intense legal battles on Thursday when the Seoul Central District Court starts his criminal trial and the Constitutional Court holds another hearing for his impeachment trial on the same day. The Seoul Central District Court earlier this month said the first preparatory hearing in the criminal trial of the president, indicted on charges of insurrection, is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Thursday. While the court will discuss how the trial will proceed in

Feb. 16, 2025

Ministry to release dating abuse diagnosis tool

Early detection essential for dating violence prevention, says expert The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Thursday said that it plans to pilot a tool for diagnosing dating abuse to help people in relationships detect signs of violence in advance and to assist counselors and the public to take prompt action to support victims of dating abuse. The tool categorizes dating violence into various forms -- stalking, emotional abuse, coercion as well as sexual, physical and economic violence -

Feb. 13, 2025

City Hall car crash driver sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison

The driver in the fatal car crash that killed nine and injured five near Seoul City Hall in July 2024 was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison. In its first trial verdict on Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Court handed down a jail term to the 69-year-old, known only by his last name Cha, without forced labor. In July last year, Cha pulled his car out from a hotel and darted in the opposite direction for some 200 meters on a one-way road near Seoul City Hall before crashing into sidewalk guar

Feb. 12, 2025

Heavy snow disrupts traffic nationwide

Heavy snow began blanketing much of the country on Wednesday, causing traffic disruptions and flight cancellations nationwide. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it had activated Level 1 operations at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters and raised the crisis alert from “attention” to “caution” as the advisory, which was initially issued for the country’s southern regions, was expanded to the central regions. The ministry also instructed relevant agenci

Feb. 12, 2025

Korea to expand educational support for foreign, multicultural students

The Ministry of Education announced Tuesday that it would provide more resources to enhance public education for students with foreign parents or nationality, particularly in schools with many such students. Hoping to provide quality education for children born with at least one foreign parent and to those with foreign nationality, the ministry plans to increase the number of teachers in schools with a high concentration of multicultural students, hire more bilingual instructors, and employ outs

Feb. 11, 2025