Two Army commanders arrested over martial law

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) -- Two Army commanders were arrested Monday for their alleged roles in implementing martial law, which triggered the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol last week. A military court issued arrest warrants for Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Army Special Warfare Command, and Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, head of the Capital Defense Command, citing concerns about flight risk and possible destruction of evidence. The two commanders are accused of deploying tr

December 16, 2024

Constitutional Court to hold first public hearing on Yoon's impeachment on Dec. 27

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korea's Constitutional Court said Monday it will hold the first public hearing on the parliamentary impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 27. The National Assembly voted Saturday to impeach Yoon following 10 days of political turmoil sparked by his short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. Yoon's powers were suspended, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assumed the role of acting president. The court is required to deliver its

December 16, 2024

Investigators fail to deliver summons to Yoon for questioning

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Investigators from a joint investigation team probing President Yoon Suk Yeol over his aborted declaration of martial law earlier this month failed to deliver a summons to him, as presidential security officials refused to accept it. The team, formed on Dec. 11, consists of members from the National Police Agency's Joint Investigation Headquarters, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), and the Ministry of National Defens

December 16, 2024

Ruling party chief resigns following Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), resigned on Monday, two days after President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over his aborted declaration of martial law earlier this month. "I am stepping down from my position as party leader," Han said during a press conference. Han, who had initially vowed to remain in his position despite mounting pressure to step down, was forced to resign after all five of the PPP's elect

December 16, 2024

Joint investigation team to summon Yoon again for questioning

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - A joint investigation team, tasked with probing President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt declaration of martial law earlier this month, announced on Monday that it will summon Yoon for questioning on Wednesday over accusations of rebellion and abuse of power. Once held, the questioning is set to take place four days after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach the president, suspending him from his duties immediately. The impeachment motion was appro

December 16, 2024

Constitutional Court holds first meeting on Yoon's impeachment trial

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea held its first meeting on Monday to begin deliberations on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol who has been suspended from his duties since last Saturday over his abrupt declaration of martial law early this month. Focusing on the constitutional review of Yoon's short-lived martial law attempt on Dec. 3 and its legality, all six justices are set to outline the key issues and procedural steps required to pr

December 16, 2024

Democratic Party leader proposes bipartisan body to stabilize country

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea’s biggest Democratic Party, on Sunday proposed the creation of a bipartisan policy consultative body to stabilize the nation quickly following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Lee also announced a temporary pause on impeachment proceedings against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became acting president automatically after Yoon's impeachment. Speaking at a press conference at the National Assem

December 15, 2024

Young Koreans lead vibrant, energetic new era of protests

Participants of a rally demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol display their protest items in Yeouido, Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2024. AJP Im Yoon-seo SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Singing and dancing with K-pop light sticks became one of the most captivating scenes at rallies against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Yeouido, western Seoul, where the National Assembly is located. The purpose of these rallies was reminiscent of the 2016 demonstrations that called for the impe

December 15, 2024

Bill proposed to halt salary, perks for Yoon Suk Yeol

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - An opposition lawmaker has introduced a bill to suspend salary payments and restrict privileges for public officials, including the president, whose duties are halted following impeachment. Rep. Park Yong-gap of the Democratic Party proposed amendments to the National Public Service Act and the Passport Act on Friday. The revisions would immediately suspend all salary payments to public officials once they are impeached by the National Assembly. The b

December 15, 2024

North Korea silent on Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - North Korea has remained silent on the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, a striking contrast to its quick response to similar political upheavals in the past. As of Sunday morning, state-controlled media outlets, including the Korean Central News Agency and the Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, had made no mention of Yoon’s impeachment. This silence differs from Pyongyang’s reaction to the impeachment of form

December 15, 2024