Noose tightens on former defense chief over botched martial law

SEOUL, December 06 (AJP) - South Korea’s former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun is facing investigation over his role in a controversial Dec. 3 martial law declaration that was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly. The incident has raised questions about the motivations behind the declaration and the extent of Kim's involvement. A graduate of Chungam High School, from which President Yoon Suk Yeol also graduated, Kim's career trajectory includes stints as a

December 6, 2024

South Korean won plunges amid woes of political instability

SEOUL, December 06 (AJP) - The South Korean won tumbled on Friday, as deepening political turmoil sent shockwaves through the currency market. The won’s value against the U.S. dollar fell sharply, briefly threatening to breach the 1,430 won level. The currency’s decline accelerated in the morning, fueled by concerns over the escalating political crisis. Calls for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, following a declaration of a state of emergency, have heightene

December 6, 2024

US defense secretary skips Seoul visit after Yoon's martial law debacle

SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has reportedly canceled his planned visit to Seoul in the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's aborted martial law earlier this week. The outgoing secretary had planned his final Asian visit including stops in Seoul and Tokyo next week, but reportedly decided to skip his visit to South Korea as Yoon faces backlash over his abrupt declaration of martial law, which ended in a chaotic overnight fiasco on Wednesday,

December 6, 2024

Assembly votes on Yoon impeachment, first lady investigation due on same day

SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - South Korea’s National Assembly is set to hold separate votes to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations against first lady Kim Keon-hee and to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. While the official schedule for the votes is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, party officials have indicated that the timing could be subject to change. The main opposition Democratic Party intends to override President Yoon’s veto of the special prosecutor bil

December 6, 2024

Prosecution, police launch probes into martial law incident

SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - South Korean prosecutors and police launched separate investigations Friday into the Dec. 3 martial law incident, with both agencies assembling large-scale investigative teams. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced the formation of a special investigation headquarters led by Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief Park Se-hyun. The move comes just one day after Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung directed prosecutors to conduct a direct investigat

December 6, 2024

Ruling party chief supports suspension of Yoon's duties ahead of impeachment vote

SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - South Korea's ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon said on Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeol's duties should be suspended, signaling his support for an impeachment motion over Yoon's abrupt late-night declaration of martial law earlier this week. "Considering the newly revealed facts, it is necessary to immediately suspend Yoon's duties to protect the country and its people," Han said during an emergency party meeting o

December 6, 2024

US confident in South Korea's democratic resilience

SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - Despite international concerns over South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law and the subsequent impeachment proposal, the White House has expressed confidence in the country's democratic resilience. In a statement on Wednesday, the White House affirmed, "The Republic of Korea (ROK) is demonstrating democratic resilience. We are confident the Korean people will resolve this episode peacefully, democratically, and constit

December 6, 2024

OPINION: What is self-coup? South Korean president's attempt ended in failure

SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - Something unexpected – but hardly unprecedented – happened in South Korea on Dec. 3, 2024. With little warning, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, citing the threat from "pro-North Korean anti-state forces." The move, which appeared more about curtailing efforts by the main opposition – the center-left Democratic Party – to frustrate Yoon's policy agenda through their control of parliament, left man

December 6, 2024

National Assembly impeaches chief auditor, 3 senior prosecutors

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - The National Assembly passed a motion on Thursday to impeach Choi Jae-hae, the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection, marking the first-ever impeachment of a chief auditor in South Korean history. The main opposition Democratic Party accused Choi of allegedly covering up issues for President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration, claiming that he violated political neutrality required for the post. The DP claimed that Choi obstructed a parliamentary aud

December 5, 2024

South Korea to ease regulations on bus terminal facilities to boost revenue

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced plans, Thursday, to allow logistics warehouses, large retail stores, and indoor sports facilities to operate within urban planning facilities including bus terminals, in a bid to address financial challenges faced by regional transportation hubs. The regulatory reform will expand the number of urban planning facilities eligible for commercial development from 23 to 40 types, excludin

December 5, 2024