Police pursue top presidential security officials for blocking Yoon's detention

SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Police have again called for two senior officials from the Presidential Security Service (PSS) to appear for questioning over their alleged role in obstructing the detention of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. Park Chong-jun, head of the PSS, and Deputy Kim Seong-hoon are under suspicion for obstructing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in its attempt to arrest Yoon, Jan. 3. The CIO was attempting to execute a warrant

January 5, 2025

Defending President Yoon's martial law may lead to criminal charges

SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - A heated debate has erupted online over whether defending South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law could lead to criminal charges. Some argue that endorsing Yoon’s conduct could itself be punishable, while others assert that such claims infringe upon the freedom of political expression guaranteed by the Constitution. At the heart of the discussion is the potential application of sedition charges for those wh

January 5, 2025

Investigators fail to arrest Yoon after hours-long standoff

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Investigators left President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Yongsan, Seoul empty-handed on Friday after failing to arrest him. Their attempt to arrest the embattled president came several days after the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) obtained an arrest warrant for Yoon earlier this week, following his repeated refusal to respond to summons. A team of 30 investigators left their office in Gwacheon, Gy

January 3, 2025

South Korea sees first birth rate increase in 9 years

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - South Korea recorded its first increase in registered births in nine years in 2024, signaling a potential turning point for a country grappling with one of the world's lowest fertility rates. The Ministry of Interior and Safety reported Friday that the number of registered births totaled 242,334 in 2024, a 3.1 percent increase from the previous year. Male births outnumbered female births, with 123,923 boys and 118,411 girls registered. Despite the

January 3, 2025

Korea reports worst flu outbreak in 8 years

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) -- South Korea is experiencing its most severe influenza outbreak in eight years, with cases more than doubling during the final week of 2024, health authorities said Friday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the number of suspected flu patients reached 73.9 per 1,000 outpatients between Dec. 22 and 28, a 136 percent increase from 31.3 the previous week. It marks the highest level since 2016, when the rate peaked at 86.2 per 1,00

January 3, 2025

Korean folk games go viral after 'Squid Game 2' release on Netflix

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Some traditional Korean folk games are garnering global attention following their appearance in the latest season of Netflix's Squid Game released last week. "Gonggi," a traditional marble game showcased in the show's second season, has become a viral sensation across social media platforms, with the term trending in global search rankings. Content creators are putting modern spins on the age-old pastime, with some using dice instead of

January 3, 2025

Investigators attempt to arrest Yoon amid tense standoff

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Investigators arrived at President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Yongsan on Friday to arrest him over his aborted martial law debacle last month. An arrest warrant requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was issued earlier this week and will expire next Monday, prompting the agency to take swift action. A team of 30 investigators left their office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, earlier in the day and

January 3, 2025

New justices on board expected to help expedite Yoon's impeachment trial

SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Acting President Choi Sang-mok's appointment of two new justices to the Constitutional Court of Korea earlier this week is expected to speed up the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law attempt last month. Choi appointed Cho Han-chang and Jeong Gye-seon from three nominees to fill vacancies at the court on New Year's Eve. With eight of the nine justices now seated, the previous requirement for a unanimous decision

January 2, 2025

Funerals underway for plane crash victims

SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Funerals for the victims of a plane crash in southwestern South Korea are underway, as all the victims' bodies were identified on Wednesday. The first funeral for a victim was held in Gwangju on Thursday, nearly a week after the fatal crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport which claimed 179 lives last Sunday. So far, the bodies and other remains of about 20 victims have been handed over to their bereaved families, with fune

January 2, 2025

Police launch investigation into fatal airplane crash

SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Police have launched a criminal investigation into Sunday’s airplane crash, executing search warrants at multiple locations as bereaved families began holding the first funeral services for victims. All but two of the 181 people aboard the Jeju Air passenger jet died after the plane crashed while landing at Muan International Airport. Investigators on Thursday raided offices at the airport, the Busan Regional Aviation Administration’s Muan bra

January 2, 2025