Yoon latest to face South Korea's presidential curse

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) - Impeached by parliament on Saturday, President Yoon Suk Yeol looks set to join a long list of disgraced South Korean leaders. Over the seven decades, the nation's presidential history has been marred by a pattern of dramatic downfalls, from exile and imprisonment to assassination and suicide. The pattern began with Syngman Rhee, who became South Korea's founding president in 1948. Once celebrated as a champion of independence, Rhee's authoritar

December 14, 2024

Constitutional Court to decide on Yoon's fate

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) - As parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday over his contentious implementation of martial law, his fate will be decided by the Constitutional Court, which will deliberate the case for up to 180 days to determine whether impeachment has sufficient grounds and followed due process. Should the court uphold the impeachment, South Korea will hold a presidential election within 60 days, as mandated by electoral law. Among the

December 14, 2024

President Yoon impeached over martial law declaration

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) -- South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol Saturday following 10 days of political turmoil triggered by his short-lived declaration of martial law last week. Yoon imposed martial law on the night of Dec. 3, sending troops and helicopters to the National Assembly. The decree was canceled later after lawmakers voted against it. Opposition parties led by the Democratic Party (DP) filed the impeachment bill Friday, labeling the

December 14, 2024

President Yoon impeached over martial law declaration

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) -- South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday following 10 days of political turmoil triggered by his short-lived declaration of martial law last week. Yoon imposed martial law on the night of Dec. 3, sending troops and helicopters to the National Assembly. The decree was canceled later after lawmakers voted against it. The opposition-controlled National Assembly approved a second impeachment motion against the embattled p

December 14, 2024

(URGENT) President Yoon impeached over martial law declaration

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) -- South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday following 10 days of political turmoil triggered by his short-lived declaration of martial law last week.

December 14, 2024

Hundreds of thousands rally ahead of Yoon's impeachment vote

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) - Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered near the National Assembly in Seoul on Saturday, demanding the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of a parliamentary vote to impeach him. Yoon abruptly declared martial law on Dec. 3, mobilizing troops and helicopters to storm the National Assembly, but the botched plan ended in an overnight fiasco, with martial law being lifted just hours later. The vote for Yoon's impeachment follows a f

December 14, 2024

Top police officials arrested in martial law probe

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) - South Korea's two highest-ranking police officials were arrested Friday over their alleged roles in President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law imposition last week. The Seoul Central District Court issued the arrest warrants for Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The court cited concerns about the potential destruction of evidence. Yoon imposed mar

December 14, 2024

Yoon faces second impeachment vote over martial law declaration

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) -- The South Korean parliament is set to vote on impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday following 10 days of political turmoil triggered by his short-lived declaration of martial law last week. Yoon imposed martial law on the night of Dec. 3, sending troops and helicopters to the National Assembly. The decree was canceled after lawmakers voted against it. Lawmakers will vote on the impeachment motion at a plenary session scheduled to begin at 4 p.

December 14, 2024

Lawmakers to vote on Yoon impeachment at 4 p.m. Saturday

SEOUL, December 13 (AJP) - A fresh motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol was submitted to the National Assembly on Friday, citing Yoon's abrupt declaration of martial law last week as unconstitutional. Under relevant laws, such a motion against the president should be voted on within 72 hours after being submitted, but not before 24 hours have passed. Opposition parties including the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), plan to put it to a vote during the National Assem

December 13, 2024

Trump again boasts about relationship with North Korean leader

SEOUL, December 13 (AJP) - The incoming U.S. President Donald Trump once again boasted about his close relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday. "I get along very well with . I'm probably the only one he's ever really dealt with. When you think about it, I am the only one he's ever dealt with," Trump said in his interview with the U.S. magazine TIME which named him this year's Person of the Year. He also shared his thoughts on N

December 13, 2024