Han Duck-soo declares presidential run, pledges constitutional reform and early exit

SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced his bid for the presidency on Friday, pledging to push forward a constitutional amendment and step down once the reform is in place. “I will form a presidential task force on constitutional reform on day one,” the 75-year-old former Prime Minister said during a press conference at the National Assembly. “In my third year, I will hold a new presidential and general election under the revised consti

May 2, 2025

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho steps in as acting president amid leadership shake-up

SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - South Korea entered unfamiliar political territory on Friday as Education Minister Lee Ju-ho assumed the role of acting president, following the sudden resignations of both Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok. Han, who had been serving as acting president, stepped down to run in the upcoming presidential election. Choi, the expected successor, also resigned after the Democratic Party (DP)-led National Assembly introduced an imp

May 2, 2025

Han Duck-soo resigns as acting president to join presidential race

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s acting president and prime minister, announced his resignation on Thursday, clearing the way for a likely run in the June 3 presidential election. “I am now stepping down from my duties as acting president and prime minister," Han said in a nationally televised address from the central government complex in Seoul. Han is expected to formally declare his presidential bid as early as Friday. He had served as ac

May 1, 2025

Supreme Court reverses acquittal of top presidential contender Lee Jae-myung

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a lower court’s acquittal of Lee Jae-myung, the opposition leader and a top contender in the upcoming presidential race, sending the case back for retrial with instructions that Lee be found guilty of spreading false information. The case stems from comments Lee made during the 2021 presidential campaign. He had denied playing golf overseas with the late Kim Moon-ki, a former executive at the S

May 1, 2025

Prosecutors bring additional charges against Yoon Suk Yeol

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Prosecutors on Thursday filed additional charges of abuse of power and obstruction of rights against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is already standing trial on charges of leading a rebellion related to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The prosecution's special investigation team, led by Park Se-hyun, chief prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, said the new charges were added following a supplementary investigation. Yoon, who

May 1, 2025

S. Korean government secures $9.6 billion extra budget

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties agreed on Thursday to pass a 13.8 trillion-won ($9.6 billion) supplementary budget aimed at revitalizing the economy. Officials from the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party said they had reached a deal to approve the budget at a parliamentary plenary session scheduled for later on Thursday. As part of the agreement, the parties allocated 400 billion won for the issuance of loc

May 1, 2025

Han Dong-hoon decries move to consolidate candidacy with acting president

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Han Dong-hoon, one of two finalists in the ruling People Power Party’s presidential primary, on Thursday criticized growing calls among party lawmakers to consolidate the party’s candidacy with Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, accusing them of prioritizing their political survival over winning the election. “For some individuals, the goal is not victory in the presidential election but the preservation of their vested intere

May 1, 2025

DP presidential nominee forms broader election camp ahead of crucial court ruling

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, former leader and presidential nominee of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), launched his election committee with a group of prominent figures to gear up for his campaign, with the snap presidential election just about a month away. The committee's high-profile lineup includes seasoned political veterans and former government officials, spanning a broad ideological spectrum from progressive to conservative, in an apparent move to pr

April 30, 2025

Prosecutors raid ex-president's home in southern Seoul

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Prosecutors raided disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's home in southern Seoul on Wednesday. They are attempting to secure any evidence and other materials related to a series of allegations involving Jeon Seong-bae, a shamanic figure known as Geonjin Beopsa, who allegedly bribed Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, with luxury jewelry and high-end handbags in exchange for political arrangements and other favors. Despite his ouster from office atter

April 30, 2025

PPP's two finalists to compete in runoff for presidential election

Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo (left) and Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), pose for a photo at the PPP's headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul on April 29, 2025. Yonhap SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Presidential candidates for the ruling People Power Party (PPP) were narrowed down to two on Tuesday ahead of the snap presidential election scheduled for early June. Among four candidates -- IT tycoon-turned-politician Ahn Cheol-soo, former party lead

April 29, 2025