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

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

Ambassador to Saudi Arabia named new defense chief

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - South Korean Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Choi Byung-hyuk was named as the successor to Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Thursday. "President Yoon Suk Yeol accepted Kim's resignation and nominated Choi as the new defense minister," said Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. Kim tendered his resignation after Yoon's abrupt declaration of martial law ended in a chaotic overnight fiasco e

December 5, 2024

Railway workers go on indefinite strike after last-minute talks break down

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - Unionized subway and railway workers went on an indefinite all-out strike on Thursday, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. Labor and management sides sat down for last-minute negotiations but were unable to narrow their differences before the pre-noticed deadline the previous day. But the unionized workers of the Korean Railway Workers' Union said they remain open to further talks to resolve the deadlock over labor negotiations.

December 5, 2024

Yoon faces decisive week as impeachment vote looms after martial law debacle

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - An impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol, after his abrupt late-night declaration of martial law earlier this week, was referred to the National Assembly's plenary session on Thursday. This procedural step paves the way for a vote on the motion later this week, posing a significant challenge to the embattled president's political future. The motion, proposed by 191 lawmakers from six opposition parties, including the main opposition

December 5, 2024

Opposition parties move to impeach Yoon after martial law fiasco

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Some 191 lawmakers from six opposition parties including the main opposition Democratic Party and minor parties like the Rebuilding Korea Party and the New Reform Party submitted a motion on Wednesday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, after his abrupt late-night declaration of martial law, which was ended in a chaotic overnight fiasco. By law, the National Assembly is required to vote on whether to impeach a president through a secret ballot within 72 hou

December 4, 2024

Senior presidential aides in mass resignations after martial law fiasco

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Key aides to President Yoon Suk Yeol, including his chief of staff, tendered their resignations on Wednesday, after the National Assembly voted the previous day to reject his abrupt declaration of martial law, the presidential office said on Wednesday. Among those who resigned were Chung Jin-suk, the president's chief of staff, National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik, and Sung Tae-yoon, the chief of staff for policy, and several other senior officials.

December 4, 2024

Opposition party calls for Yoon's resignation over martial law declaration

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday called for President Yoon Suk Yeol's immediate resignation, denouncing his abrupt late-night declaration of martial law, which was lifted shortly after as the National Assembly voted to reject it. In an emergency meeting at the National Assembly, the DP said it will soon begin impeachment proceedings if he refused to step down voluntarily. "Yoon's declaration of martial law is unconstitu

December 4, 2024