Yoon's legal representatives set to attend impeachment hearing

SEOUL, December 27 (AJP) - Lawyers representing President Yoon Suk Yeol are expected to attend a public hearing for his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court of Korea on Friday. Yoon's longtime friend and legal representative Seok Dong-hyun told reporters that Yoon has formed a legal defense team to handle his impeachment trial and investigations related to his short-lived martial law attempts earlier this month. According to Seok, Bae Bo-yoon, a former scholar who se

December 27, 2024

National Assembly votes to appoint Constitutional Court justice nominees

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Three justices nominated for the Constitutional Court of Korea were approved by the National Assembly on Thursday. But their final appointments remain uncertain as they require approval from Acting President Han Duck-soo who insists that he can only proceed if the National Assembly reaches an agreement granting him the authority to do so. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which holds a majority in the National Assembly, has been seeking to fill

December 26, 2024

OPINION: The Night of Seoul: A breakdown of rule of law in Korea's constitutional crisis

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -- Harvard University professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, authors of How Democracies Die (2018), emphasize the importance of "respecting guardrails" and exercising restraint in presidential power, as norms and institutions like the separation of powers alone are insufficient. The authors particularly emphasize democratic norms: mutual toleration and understanding that recognizes opposing parties as legitimate competitors, and exercisin

December 26, 2024

Constitutional Court to hold first hearing over Yoon's martial law attempt

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea is set to hold its first hearing on Friday on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his abrupt declaration of martial law earlier this month. The hearing comes about two weeks after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach him on Dec. 14. Such a public hearing is a preparatory procedure to discuss how the court will proceed with its deliberations to determine whether to impeach or reinstate the preside

December 26, 2024

Chinese port city strengthens ties with South Korea's Buyeo

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - China's eastern port city of Yantai aims to further deepen its ties with Buyeo, a small southwestern town in South Korea. During an event on Monday that brought together media outlets from both countries, the two provincial cities agreed to promote mutual exchanges, highlighting the growing cooperation between them. Representatives from government agencies, institutions, and media outlets from both countries attended, including Shandong Network Radi

December 26, 2024

Acting President refuses to appoint Constitutional Court justices without parliamentary consensus

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Acting President Han Duck-soo said on Thursday that he will not appoint justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court of Korea unless the National Assembly reaches an agreement granting him the authority to do so. "Under the inherent spirit of the Constitution, an acting president should refrain from exercising presidential power including appointments," said Han during a nationwide address in Seoul. "If such power must be exerci

December 26, 2024

Yoon's troop deployment under martial law raises questions about alliance: US Congress report

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to deploy troops under martial law without notifying U.S. military commanders in South Korea has raised concerns about the state of alliance coordination, according to a new report released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) on Dec. 23. The report, accessible on the CRS website, highlights potential ramifications for U.S.-South Korea relations and broader foreign policy. It warns that Seoul could face cha

December 24, 2024

Opposition party to push for Acting President's impeachment this week

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) vowed on Tuesday to take immediate steps to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo. "Han made it clear at a Cabinet meeting that he will not promulgate the bills," the DP's floor leader Park Chan-dae said. "The only interpretation of this is that he intends to buy time." The development comes after Han refused the DP's demand to promulgate two bills for investigations by independent pr

December 24, 2024

Top university leaders discuss strategies for tackling upcoming complex crises at Seoul forum

SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Leaders from South Korea's top universities in economics, technology, and law gathered in Seoul for a forum to discuss the challenges the country faces ahead of the new year. Under the theme "Renovation and Revolution of Korea," the University Presidents' Future Forum 2025 brought together leaders from prestigious institutions, including KAIST, Seoul National University (SNU), and Yonsei University. The event at the National Assembly i

December 23, 2024

Police secure President Yoon's phone records related to emergency martial law

SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - The National Police Agency's special investigation team announced Sunday that it had obtained phone records from President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of its probe into the president's declaration and execution of emergency martial law on Dec. 3. The president declared martial law at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 3, citing threats to national security. Martial forces were deployed to major government facilities, including the National Assembly and

December 23, 2024