Police brace for possible chaos as Yoon's impeachment verdict nears

SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - Security will be beefed up around the Constitutional Court of Korea in central Seoul as a final verdict for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial over last year's botched martial law debacle looms as early as this week or early next week. Several districts including Jongno, where the court is located, along with nearby areas, will be designated for special security to prepare for potential chaos and violence from both supporters and opponents of

March 10, 2025

South Korea poised to finalize deal with Poland for additional batch of weapons shipment

SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - South Korea is poised to finalize a deal to export K2 battle tanks to Poland as early as next month, government sources here said on Sunday. The deal worth 9 trillion South Korean won (US$6 billion) will supply the European country with an additional 180 K2 battle tanks. The upcoming deal is part of massive arms agreements signed in 2022, under which Poland is procuring battle tanks, jet trainers, self-propelled howitzers, light attack aircraft, and multipl

March 9, 2025

Russia 'retakes Ukrainian-occupied territory with support from North Korean troops'

SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Russia has reclaimed two-thirds of its northwestern Kursk territory, which was lost to Ukrainian forces last summer, as "battlefield advances" were made with the help of North Korean forces, the New York Times reported on Saturday. "Russian and North Korean soldiers have retaken about two-thirds of the land lost in the summer - but at a horrendous cost, with at least 4,000 troops killed in combat," the daily said. "As the battles dr

March 9, 2025

Rifts deepen as impeachment verdict looms after Yoon's release

SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - With President Yoon Suk Yeol's release from detention on Saturday, attention now turns to its possible impacts on the final verdict in his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court of Korea over his botched martial law debacle last year. Yoon returned to his official residence in Hannam-dong after some 52 days of detention at a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, as prosecutors decided not to appeal a court's order the previous day to cance

March 9, 2025

Impeached South Korean president released from detention after court ruling

SEOUL, March 08 (AJP) - Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from the Seoul Detention Center on Saturday, 52 days after being detained on charges of inciting an insurrection related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December. Yoon's release came after a court ruled on Friday that he could stand trial without physical detention. The court approved Yoon's release request after determining that his Jan. 26 indictment, which extended his detention, had com

March 8, 2025

Prosecutors divided over President Yoon's release order after court decision

SEOUL, March 08 (AJP) - South Korea's prosecution leadership and the special investigation team are at odds over whether to comply with a court decision to cancel President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention, sources said Saturday. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office leadership has instructed the investigation team to issue orders for Yoon's release following the court's decision, according to legal sources. However, the Special Investigation Headquarters for Martial Law,

March 8, 2025

Court orders Yoon's release from detention

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - A court on Friday ruled in favor of President Yoon Suk Yeol's request to cancel his arrest over his botched martial law debacle last December. The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon's indictment to be "invalid," as it was made after his detention period had expired. Given differing views over whether detention periods should be calculated in days or hours, the court further explained that there were additional grounds for canceling h

March 7, 2025

Poland hopes for swift weapons procurement from South Korea

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday expressed his hope for the swift shipment of weapons as part of its massive arms deal with South Korea. In a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Warsaw, Duda "expressed his hope for swift progress" in finalizing the second-phrase purchase deal of K2 battle tanks to facilitate local production, the Foreign Ministry here said in a press release, quoting his as saying. Speaking later at

March 7, 2025

Military vows support for victims after live-fire drill mishap

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - Military authorities on Thursday vowed support for the victims of an accidental bombing in Pocheon, north of Seoul the previous day, pledging to come up with measures to prevent similar incidents. Fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs outside a training range during a live-fire drill in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, injuring 15 people including villagers and soldiers and also destroying five homes along with several other buildings and structures. Ini

March 7, 2025

Why many South Korean women are exposed to unwanted pregnancies and STIs

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - Despite a growing awareness of sexual health in South Korea, contraception remains largely a woman's responsibility, leaving many women vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies and exposing them to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In a country still steeped in Confucian traditions and values, many men often refuse to use condoms in their intimate relationships, leaving their female partners to often bear much of the blame for not p

March 7, 2025