Yoon denies insurrection charges: confidant

President Yoon Suk Yeol rejected allegations of insurrection over his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, his confidant told reporters Wednesday, stressing that the martial law decree was made to act against a national crisis. Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer who wished to be identified as Yoon's aide until the president's defense team is officially launched, said that Yoon feels confident to deliver his thoughts “proudly” in court. “Yoon apologized to the people

Social AffairsDec. 19, 2024

Ex-DCC chief claims Yoon mentioned martial law in 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol reportedly mentioned the possibility of declaring emergency martial law last year, calling it a last resort, according to testimony by former defense counterintelligence chief Yeo In-hyung during prosecution questioning. According to Kyunghyang Shinmun, a local daily, Yeo testified that Yoon first mentioned “taking emergency action” to address “difficult social issues” in late December 2023. Yeo interprets “emergency action&rdquo

PoliticsDec. 19, 2024

At least 100 North Korean soldiers died in Ukraine war: NIS

At least 100 North Korean soldiers sent to Russia to fight against Ukraine have been killed, and more than 1,000 wounded, according to the National Intelligence Service in Seoul. Rep. Lee Seong-kweun, the ruling People Power Party's deputy chair of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee, told reporters Thursday that among some 11,000 North Korean soldiers believed to have been deployed in Kursk near Russia’s border with Ukraine, “at least 100 have been killed, and m

PoliticsDec. 19, 2024

Acting president vetoes 6 contentious bills

Acting President Han Duck-soo on Thursday vetoed six bills passed in the opposition-controlled National Assembly last month, despite threats from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea to impeach him if he "crosses the line." This is the second time in Korea's constitutional history that an acting president has exercised his veto power, with the last instance occurring in 2004. Prime Minister Han immediately assumed the role of acting president following President Yoon Suk

PoliticsDec. 19, 2024

Lotteria caught in crossfire of martial law debacle

Homegrown fast-food chain Lotteria has garnered unwarranted nationwide attention in relation to the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, after it was revealed that military commanders had discussed their actions concerning the president's orders at one of its branches. The fast-food brand, one of the largest in the country, has expressed discomfort in the surge of internet memes linking it to President Yoon Suk Yeol's ill-fated declaration of martial law. "We are perplexed for being

Social AffairsDec. 19, 2024

Over 1,500 troops, 100 vehicles, 9,000 live rounds mobilized on martial law night

More than 1,500 military personnel, equipped with a range of firearms, along with over 100 military vehicles, were reportedly mobilized during President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on Dec. 3. According to a report released Thursday by Rep. Bak Seung-a of the Democratic Party of Korea, 107 military vehicles were deployed by the Army Special Warfare Command and the Capital Defense Command on the night of the martial law declaration. The report, which Bak received from the Defense

DefenseDec. 19, 2024

DDP lights up for annual winter festival

Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung-gu, central Seoul, is celebrating the return of the holiday season with its annual media art festival, which drew up to 620,000 visitors last winter. Seoul Light DDP, jointly hosted and organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Design Foundation, showcases media artworks by projecting them onto the 222-meter-long exterior of the DDP. This year’s festival, which kicks off on Thursday, will run through Dec. 31, under the theme “5 Cheers!.&

Social AffairsDec. 19, 2024

Seoul city announces 11 civic representatives for New Year's bell-ringing event

The Seoul city government on Thursday announced a list of civic representatives to take part in the bell-ringing ceremony in downtown Seoul at midnight on New Year's Eve. The 11 civic bell ringers were selected from among some 90 people recommended by the public last month for overcoming adversity or doing good deeds to inspire others, committing to sharing and volunteer work, or heightening a sense of national pride on the global stage. The representatives will join in ringing the bell 33

Social AffairsDec. 19, 2024

Two coworkers win lottery within minutes of each other

Two coworkers in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, each won 1 billion won ($689,000) within minutes of each other, splitting a two-ticket jackpot, a lottery firm said on Thursday. After the first person saw that he'd won, he told his colleague to immediately buy the next ticket from the same store, which also turned out to be a winner. Their extraordinary stroke of luck came with the Spito 2000, a scratch-off lottery that allows players to instantly verify their prize. The jackpot is award

Social AffairsDec. 19, 2024

Han, Japan's Ishiba agree to continue trilateral cooperation with US against N. Korea-Russia ties

Acting President Han Duck-soo held phone talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Thursday and agreed to continue trilateral security cooperation with the United States to cope with the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia, officials said. Han held the phone conversation with Ishiba after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Assembly last Saturday over his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. The two sides agreed to work together to stab

PoliticsDec. 19, 2024

Shaman with alleged ties to Yoon attends arrest warrant hearing

A shaman reportedly close to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife attended his arrest warrant hearing at a court Thursday after being charged with receiving illegal political funds about six years ago. Jeon Seong-bae, also known as Geon Jin, was detained by prosecutors earlier this week on suspicion of receiving illegal political funds from politicians and candidates who ran for office in the 2018 local elections. Jeon arrived at the Seoul Southern District Court in the morning wearing a white m

PoliticsDec. 19, 2024

Embattled ex-defense minister defends military's actions during martial law

Former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, currently being investigated in detention for insurrection and abuse of power charges, justified President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec.3 martial law declaration and defended the military actions under his orders. "The martial law was to eradicate the anti-state forces and to bequeath the free Korea to the future generation. ... We all know that the president declared the martial law upon my suggestion," he said in a statement released behind bars o

PoliticsDec. 19, 2024

'Yoon's party isn't ruling party': 52.6% of surveyed Koreans say

With support for President Yoon Suk Yeol's People Power Party plummeting after his controversial Dec. 3 martial law, over half of the respondents in a recent survey said Yoon's party should not even be considered a ruling party during his impeachment trial. Local pollster Realmeter on Thursday revealed the results of a survey taken Wednesday on 503 voters across the country, in which 52.6 percent said the People Power Party "was not a ruling party" while Yoon's duties

PoliticsDec. 19, 2024

Senate passes annual defense policy bill, including maintaining USFK troop level

The Senate approved an annual defense policy bill Wednesday that calls for maintaining some 28,500 American troops in South Korea and reaffirming the United States' deterrence commitment to the Asian ally. In an 85-14 vote, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025, which authorizes $895 billion for national defense programs. The House approved the legislation a week ago. Congress passes the bill each year to set defense policy and funding priorities and

DefenseDec. 19, 2024

N. Korea defends military alignment with Russia as 'normal' cooperative ties

North Korea on Thursday denounced the United States, South Korea and other nations for issuing a joint statement condemning military cooperation between the North and Russia, claiming they were "distorting and slandering" the essence of its "normal" cooperative ties with Moscow. An unnamed spokesperson at North Korea's foreign ministry released the statement as the US, South Korea, the European Union and eight other countries on Monday condemned growing military cooperat

North KoreaDec. 19, 2024

US assesses Russia may be close to accepting N. Korea's nuclear weapons program: Washington envoy

The United States believes Russia may be close to accepting North Korea's nuclear weapons program in a reversal of its long-standing commitment to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, its ambassador to the United Nations said Wednesday. During a UN Security Council meeting, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield revealed US information that Moscow has sent air defense systems to the North while underscoring the United States' concerns over Moscow's "intent" to share satellite

Foreign AffairsDec. 19, 2024

[Graphic News] Idiom of the year

The four-character idiom “Doryangbalho”, meaning "the rampant abuse of power and influence," was chosen as the idiom of the year. College professors highlighted their concerns, criticizing the misuse of authority for personal gain instead of serving the public good. According to a nationwide survey conducted by The Kyosu Sinmun from Nov. 25 to Dec. 2 among 1,086 professors, “Doryangbalho” received 41.4 percent of the votes (450), reflecting both past and curre

Social AffairsDec. 19, 2024

S. Korea reports new avian influenza case at duck farm

South Korea has confirmed its 12th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) for the season at a duck farm in the southwestern region, authorities said Wednesday. The latest case was detected at a duck farm in the county of Buan in North Jeolla Province, some 190 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the authorities. The farm is located in a 10-km radius of another duck farm that reported a highly pathogenic AI case last week. To prevent further spread, officials have taken measures to co

Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024

Acting President Han to hold extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Thursday

Acting President Han Duck-soo will convene an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Thursday, which is expected to decide whether to veto contentious bills. The meeting is set to review the six bills passed by the main opposition Democratic Party last month -- four agricultural bills, the National Assembly Act and the National Assembly Testimony Appraisal Act. If Han does not demand that the National Assembly reconsider the bills by Saturday, they will be enacted into law. One of the key bills under

PoliticsDec. 18, 2024

11 areas designated as special disaster zones after last month's snowfall

The government on Wednesday designated 11 areas across the country that suffered serious damage from last month's snowfall as special disaster zones eligible for state support. Acting President Han Duck-soo made the designation on seven cities and counties, including Pyeongtaek and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province, as well as four towns and villages, such as Anheung in Gangwon Province, according to the interior ministry. On Nov. 26-28, up to more than 40 centimeters of snow fell in the areas, l

Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024