Presidential security chief questioned over blocking Yoon's arrest

SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - The head of South Korea's Presidential Security Service underwent police questioning on Friday over allegations that he ordered security officials to block investigators from executing an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Park Chong-jun, chief of the Presidential Security Service, appeared at the National Office of Investigation (NOI) headquarters in western Seoul in the morning and expressed concern about potential clashes between g

January 10, 2025

All victims of plane crash buried, two weeks after disaster

SEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - Funerals for the victims of a plane crash in Muan, southwestern South Korea late last month have now wrapped up, with the remaining two victims laid to rest in Jeju on Thursday. With their funerals, all the victims have been buried, nearly two weeks after the fatal crash of a Jeju Air flight which claimed 179 lives at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Dec. 29. Until the previous day, the obsequies for the other 177 victims had been compl

January 9, 2025

Investigators weigh in on timing for another attempt to arrest Yoon

Security officials stroll at President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul on Jan. 9, 2025. Yonhap SEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - Investigators are gearing up for another attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol over last month's botched martial law debacle. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) failed to arrest him in its first attempt after an hours-long standoff with security officials at Yoon's official residence in Hannam-

January 9, 2025

Mercury drops to coldest this winter

SEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - A biting cold hit the entire country on Thursday, with temperatures in Seoul plunging below -10 degrees Celsius, the coldest day of this winter. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the morning low in Seoul fell to -10.2 degrees, but the wind chill effect made it feel even colder, bringing the temperature down by 5 to 10 degrees. The lowest morning temperatures were -16.9 degrees in Daegwallyeong in Gangwon Province, -13.6 degree

January 9, 2025

Bills for independent probe into Yoon and first lady scrapped once again in National Assembly

SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - Bills proposing independent prosecutors to investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee over several allegations including Yoon's botched martial law debacle last month were scraped in the National Assembly on Wednesday. The bills, which had passed during a plenary session last month after Acting President Choi Sang-mok's veto, failed to secure enough votes to override the veto, with 198 and 196 votes in favor each, falling short of

January 8, 2025

Yoon 'willing to respond if legitimate court issues warrant for his detention'

SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol is willing to face trial, should he be indicted or if a legitimate court issues a warrant for his detention, Yoon's legal representatives said on Wednesday. The remarks came just a day after his arrest warrant, issued by the Seoul Western District Court, was extended and another attempt to arrest him by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) looms over his botched martial law debacle last month. &q

January 8, 2025

Seasoned diplomat to serve as interim US Ambassador to Seoul

SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - Joseph Yun, a former U.S. State Department special representative for North Korea policy will assume the role of chargé d'affaires to South Korea, following the departure of U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg. The seasoned diplomat "will become chargé d'affaires in a few days," the outgoing ambassador said during a farewell press briefing at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday when asked if Yun would serve as the acting U.S

January 8, 2025

South Koreans to enjoy weeklong break for Lunar New Year holiday

SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - South Koreans are expected to enjoy a full week's break for the Lunar New Year holiday later this month as the government is considering designating Jan. 27 as a temporary public holiday. This means the holiday would start on Saturday, Jan. 25, and last until Jan. 30. The announcement was made after a meeting with the ruling People Power Party on Wednesday. PPP lawmaker Kim Sang-hoon said the extra public day off would help "boost domestic consumpti

January 8, 2025

Anti-corruption agency vows to arrest Yoon in next attempt as court extends warrant

SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Investigators vowed Tuesday to ensure the arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle last month, after their failed attempt last week. "We will thoroughly prepare for the arrest, with the resolve that it would be the last chance," said Oh Dong-woon, head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), during a National Assembly hearing. Last week, about 30 CIO investigators attempted to arrest

January 7, 2025

Russia may share space technology with North Korea: Blinken

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (right) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a press conference after their talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on Jan. 6, 2025. Yonhap SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday Russia may provide advanced space and satellite technology to North Korea in exchange for weapons and other military supplies from Pyongyang. "We have reasons to believe that Moscow intends to share advanced

January 6, 2025