Democratic Party leader says his trial will be swift, denies delay tactics

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung said Wednesday that the ongoing trial on his election law violation charge would be conducted without delay, addressing the suspicion that his recent complaint over a lower-court ruling last year was a bid to delay the legal proceedings. "The trial will be concluded swiftly without any delay," Lee told reporters as he entered the Seoul High Court for a hearing of an appellate trial concerning his accused violation of the Public O

Feb. 6, 2025

Man who threatened bomb attack in relation to Yoon's impeachment turns self in

A man in his 40s who wrote in a comment on YouTube that he was preparing a homemade bomb and would "dedicate his life" to an unspecified cause has turned himself in to the police. Officials at the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency said Tuesday they are investigating the suspect for intimidation, punishable by up to three years in prison or a 5 million won ($3,400) fine under Article 283 of the Criminal Act. The suspect is believed to be behind a comment written at around 11 p.m. Monday on

Feb. 5, 2025

Yoon Suk Yeol's confidant gave order to blow up own agents: brigadier general

Noh Sang-won, the former commander at the Korea Defense Intelligence Command under investigation for his role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched imposition of martial law, once ordered the blowing up of his own men with explosives, an Army brigadier general formerly under Noh's command said Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Park Min-woo, who served at the KDIC under Noh, told the National Assembly that Noh used to give orders that "were based on movie screenplays." During Park's time as the deputy chief of

Feb. 5, 2025

92% of South Koreans concerned about political conflict in society: survey

Of all the conflicts in society, South Koreans are most concerned about political conflict between progressives and conservatives, a 2023 report by a state-run think tank showed Wednesday. In Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs' survey of 3,950 people aged 19-75 conducted between June and August 2023, 92.3 percent of the respondents said they thought the political conflict between progressives and conservatives was a serious issue, slightly up from 87 percent who thought so in the 2018

Feb. 5, 2025

'Nothing even happened': Yoon's view of martial law fiasco in his own words

Impeached president likens insurrection probe to 'chasing shadow of moon on lake,' says nothing significant happened President Yoon Suk Yeol's remarks in his ongoing impeachment trial reveal his views on the martial law fiasco that occurred late in the evening of Dec. 3, 2024, eventually leading to his impeachment and arrest for insurrection. The suspended leader, during the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial Tuesday, refuted charges against him by saying that not much had happened during th

Feb. 5, 2025

Portable power banks on planes: What to do?

Following Air Busan fire, airlines tighten rules on portable batteries, as experts call for stricter management of fire hazards South Koreans across the country are expressing concerns over portable batteries and chargers being fire hazards, with speculations that such a device was behind the Jan. 28 fire on an Air Busan aircraft awaiting takeoff in Busan. Although all passengers and crew managed to evacuate safely from the fire, which badly damaged the fuselage of the plane, Air Busan has banne

Feb. 4, 2025

Conservative frontrunner Kim Moon-soo dismisses presidential bid plans

Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo said Tuesday that he has "not at all considered" any plans to throw his hat in the ring for the next presidential race, which will take place this year if the Constitutional Court confirms the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. "The impeachment trial and investigations concerning Yoon's martial law decree are under way and there is a possibility of an early presidential election, but we cannot be sure... Speaking about entering the presidential race is disrespect

Feb. 4, 2025

Uncrewed fire trucks prove value in Air Busan fire, winning additional deployments

South Korean fire authorities recently announced six additional deployments of uncrewed remotely controlled fire trucks, which played a crucial part in extinguishing the Jan. 28 fire that broke out onboard an Air Busan aircraft in Busan. The additional fire trucks, put into use nationwide last year, will be dispatched in Daegu, Gwangju and Gangwon, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong and North Jeolla provinces, according to the National Fire Agency. A total of 32 such trucks will be deployed ac

Feb. 4, 2025

Catholic leaders targeted by President Yoon: report

In addition to allegations that President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the arrest of prominent politicians upon declaring martial law late in the evening of Dec. 3, 2024, notes found at the home of a Yoon confidant appear to indicate that members of a Catholic priests' group were among those to be "collected" by martial law forces. MBC reported Monday that the Catholic Priests' Association for Justice was among the civilian targets specified in notes found at the residence of Noh Sang-won, who was then

Feb. 4, 2025

Local man's outing with sex doll turns heads at amusement park

An unusual date between a local man and what appears to be a life-sized sex doll turned heads this Lunar New Year holiday at an amusement park in Gyeongju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul. An unidentified man posted a review of his recent visit to Gyeongju World on Wednesday, sharing photos and videos of his date with "Rem" at the amusement park. "I couldn't get on all the rides because it was winter, but I was happy to take her on rides like the Kraken (an apparent misspelling of the roller coast

Jan. 31, 2025