As Trump takes office, uncertainty looms for South Korea amid power vacuum

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - As U.S. President Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the U.S. in Washington, D.C. on Monday, as South Korea is bracing for potential shifts in its diplomatic relations with its key ally. Trump's inauguration inside the Capitol, the first indoor ceremony since 1985 due to bitterly cold weather, comes just a day after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested and incarcerated over his botched martial law debacle last month, making a

January 20, 2025

Season's first fine dust advisory issued for Seoul

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - This winter's first ultra-fine dust advisory was issued for the Seoul metropolitan area on Monday. The advisory was issued by the Seoul Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment as Seoul's average ultra-fine dust concentration or PM 2.5 density was 97 ㎍/㎥ as of noon and remained at very harmful levels throughout the day. Such advisories are issued when the hourly average concentration of PM 2.5 exceeds 75 ㎍/㎥ for more tha

January 20, 2025

Police in another attempt to search for evidence in martial law debacle

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Police on Monday raided President Yoon Suk Yeol's personal quarters in Samcheong-dong as well as an office for his security officials at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. In another attempt to search for evidence related to his botched martial law debacle last month including CCTV footage, investigators from the National Office of Investigation arrived each site around 1:30 p.m. Monday's raid came just a few weeks after their previous at

January 20, 2025

Dozens of Yoon's young die-hard supporters to face arrest after violent court intrusion

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Over half of the protesters who were arrested for storming a court in Seoul on Sunday were mostly young die-hard supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to police authorities. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said on Monday that 46 of the 90 protesters, who caused a violent disturbance to prevent Yoon's arrest over his martial law debacle last month, were those in their 20s and 30s, making up about 51 percent. Police detained them

January 20, 2025

Yoon in isolated cell barred from seeing visitors as he remains uncooperative with questioning

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is now confined to a tiny solitary cell in a dramatic turn after his detention on Sunday over the botched martial law debacle last month, has been restricted from seeing any visitors except his legal representatives, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) said on Monday. The independent agency established to root out corruption in the government said the measure, which bars him from meeting with his

January 20, 2025

Viet Nam in talks with South Korea to purchase of K9 self-propelled howitzers

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Viet Nam is in government-level discussions with South Korea regarding the potential acquisition of K9 self-propelled howitzers, one of South Korea's best-selling weapons. If finalized, this deal would mark South Korea's first defense export to Southeast Asia. "While nothing has been decided yet, we are aware that discussions are underway at the government level," a Hanwha Aerospace official told AJP on Monday. The proposed deal includ

January 20, 2025

South Korean political, business leaders arrive in US ahead of Trump's inauguration

SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Key political and business figures from South Korea have left for the U.S. as President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration approaches. Amid the aftermath of martial law and the lack of a government-level channel in South Korea to engage the second Trump administration, lawmakers and business leaders are expected to lead diplomatic efforts through the inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C., scheduled for Monday. A delegation from the National Assemb

January 19, 2025

Yoon's supporters storm Seoul court following court approval of arrest

SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed a Seoul court in the early hours of Sunday after his arrest over a martial law declaration last month. Protesters remained outside the Seoul Western District Court even after Yoon’s pretrial detention hearing concluded. When news of his arrest warrant was announced at 3 a.m., they breached police barricades at the rear gate and climbed over court walls. Some seized police shields and plastic chairs, using

January 19, 2025

Court approves formal arrest of Yoon over martial law declaration

SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) — Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally arrested early Sunday over his martial law declaration last month. Judge Cha Eun-kyung of the Seoul Western District Court approved an arrest warrant on the charges of insurrection and abuse of power. She cited concerns that he could destroy evidence. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) apprehended Yoon on Wednesday. It requested a formal arrest warrant on Friday before

January 19, 2025

Court concludes 5-hour detention hearing for Yoon

SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) - A Seoul court on Saturday concluded a five-hour hearing to determine whether to extend the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over last month's martial law declaration. Yoon, apprehended Wednesday on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, appeared at the Seoul Western District Court wearing a dark business suit, accompanied by eight lawyers. The hearing before Judge Cha Eun-kyung began at 2 p.m. and lasted until 6:50 p.m. Yoon spo

January 18, 2025