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

Election watchdog denounces Yoon's election fraud claims

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The National Election Commission (NEC) on Thursday sharply criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol's allegations of election fraud, calling his actions “unconstitutional and unlawful.” Yoon had earlier claimed that he ordered the former defense chief, Kim Yong-hyun, to inspect the NEC’s voting system during the Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The president raised concerns over potential cyberattacks from North Korea, casting doubt on the

December 12, 2024

China protests President Yoon's mentioning of espionage cases involving Chinese

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The Chinese government has expressed strong dissatisfaction with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's latest address to the nation, in which he mentioned cases involving Chinese individuals suspected of espionage. Yoon cited these cases to blame opposition parties for lack of cooperation in revising laws to punish espionage activities involving foreigners. China argued that these remarks are harmful to bilateral relations. “China has ta

December 12, 2024

Yoon's close aide elected ruling party's new floor leader amid martial law aftermath

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Five-term lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong was elected the ruling People Power Party (PPP)'s new floor leader on Thursday. Kweon secured a majority with 72 out of 106 votes, defeating four-term lawmaker Kim Tae-ho who garnered 34 votes. He vowed, "I will swiftly streamline the party, prepare for the possibly upcoming presidential election, and then step down." A close aide of President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kweon replaces Choo Kyung-ho, who resigned

December 12, 2024

Suspicions deepen over aborted martial law

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol allegedly conspired with several top military brass and other key officials, days or weeks before his abrupt declaration of martial law last week, with a trail of evidence suggesting a thickening plot behind it. Prosecutors on Thursday summoned Yeo In-hyeong, the chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, for questioning. Yeo, who allegedly assisted in Yoon's botched plan, was interrogated earlier this week and called in

December 12, 2024

Cho Kuk sentenced two years in prison

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Cho Kuk, the leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Supreme Court on Thursday. Cho was convicted on charges of forging his children's credentials for university admissions, obstructing prosecutors' investigation while serving as a presidential aide during the Moon Jae-in administration, and other offenses. With the ruling, the former Justice Minister lost his parliamentary seat and is e

December 12, 2024

Yoon defends aborted martial law decree, vows to fight to the end

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his aborted declaration of martial law last week as a legitimate exercise of his authority in governing state affairs and vowed to fight to the end, in a pre-recorded nationwide address at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul on Thursday. Yoon, who had holed up in his official residence in Hannam-dong after making a brief apology last Saturday, appeared to deliver the address to justify last Tuesday's debacle and r

December 12, 2024

Joint team formed to probe martial law debacle

SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - A team of investigators from three different agencies is set to launch a joint probe into President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt declaration of martial law last week. Consisting of investigators from the Ministry of Defense, the National Police Agency, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), an independent agency established to root out corruption in government, the team formed on Wednesday aims to minimize inefficiency and

December 11, 2024