Hundreds of thousands of protesters brave shivering cold as Yoon faces fateful impeachment vote

SEOUL, December 7 (AJP) - Despite the freezing weather, hundreds of thousands of people gathered near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on Saturday, demanding President Yoon Suk Yeol step down. Yoon faces a fateful impeachment vote after his short-lived martial law declaration earlier this week, which sparked nationwide outrage. Police estimated that around 149,000 people had gathered as of 5:30 p.m., as many citizens and civic groups packed the streets. Prote

December 7, 2024

First lady special investigation bill dropped; Opposition may push for reintroduction

SEOUL, December 7 (AJP) - The National Assembly rejected a bill to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations against First Lady Kim Keon-hee in a revote, Saturday. This comes after President Yoon Suk-yeol vetoed the bill earlier. The bill, which required a two-thirds majority, failed to garner enough support, with 198 lawmakers voting in favor and 102 against. This outcome suggests that six lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) may have voted for the bill,

December 7, 2024

Yoon apologizes for martial law debacle

SEOUL, December 7 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol in a televised nationwide address Saturday said he will not avoid any "legal and political responsibility" for his abrupt declaration of martial law, which ended in a chaotic overnight fiasco earlier this week. His 2-minute-long address comes just hours before the National Assembly is set to hold a vote on a motion to impeach the president. Yoon apologized for "causing public concern and inconvenience"

December 7, 2024

First S.Korean Nobel laureate in literature Han Kang reflects on recent Korea's political turmoil

South Korean author Han Kang participates in a press conference at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, on Dec. 6, 2024. SEOUL, December 06 (AJP) - "So for the past few days, as with many Koreans alike, I was shocked, and I am keeping my eyes on the news to see the changes happening in my home country,” said Han Kang, the 54-year-old novelist and the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, during her first official press conference at the Swedish Acad

December 6, 2024

Ruling party chief remains firm on suspending Yoon's duties

SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), remains adamant about the need to suspend President Yoon Suk Yeol's duties, even after a brief meeting with him on Friday. Sharing details of his meeting with Yoon at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong in Seoul, Han said he "heard nothing" from Yoon to change his stance after discussing about his abrupt declaration of martial law, which ended in a chaotic overnight fiasco ear

December 6, 2024

Acting Defense Minister dismisses possibility of another martial law attempt

SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - Acting Defense Minister Kim Sun-ho on Friday dismissed the possibility of another martial law attempt, saying that such a thing would "never" happen. "Rumors about another similar attempt are completely groundless, and we will refuse any such actions," said Kim, who temporarily assumed the post after former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who reportedly proposed the idea of declaring martial law to President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this we

December 6, 2024

Opposition leader accuses Yoon of abusing power

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, speaks at the National Assembly on Dec. 6, 2024. Yonhap SEOUL, December 6 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), accused President Yoon Suk Yeol of abusing his power for personal and political gains in a statement at the National Assembly in Seoul on Friday. Lee denounced him, pointing out that the democratic values of the country face a "severe crisis" after Yoon's

December 6, 2024

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

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