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Party leaders hold talks but differ on fundamentals
Leaders of South Korea's two major political parties held talks Wednesday in hopes of helping normalize state affairs, but the meeting ended with the two showing widely divergent views on how to address the power vacuum. At the meeting, the ruling People Power Party's acting Chair Rep. Kweon Seong-dong floated amending the portion of South Korea's Constitution that stipulates that the president serves a single five-year term. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's le
PoliticsDec. 18, 2024
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Secret service rejects search request for presidential office servers
The Presidential Security Service refused to comply with a search and seizure warrant regarding access to the presidential office's computer servers, according to a joint investigation unit probing the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, Wednesday. According to the interagency investigation unit, the Presidential Security Service submitted an official statement to the investigators at 4:50 p.m., citing “military secrets” and “official confidentiality” as reasons for its
Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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Democratic Party lawmaker calls Han Dong-hoon killer squad claims ‘falsehoods’
A Democratic Party lawmaker refuted claims Wednesday that the martial law decree of Dec. 3 involved plans to assassinate Han Dong-hoon, who was the ruling People Power Party leader two days ago. Kim Ou-joon, a controversial broadcaster who is best known for his Democratic Party of Korea-leaning political commentary, claimed last week a squad comprising agents from an elite Army intelligence unit on North Korean missions intended to arrest Han and then assassinate him. Democratic Party Rep. Huh Y
PoliticsDec. 18, 2024
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Army unit had live ammunition on martial law night: report
Live ammunition and Taser gun cartridges, along with blank rounds, were taken out of a military depot for the 707th Special Mission Group that forcibly entered the National Assembly after martial law was declared on Dec. 3. According to a report submitted to Rep. Seo Young-kyo by the Army Special Warfare Command -- the group's parent unit -- 3,960 live rounds, 1,980 blank rounds and 100 cartridges for Taser guns, were withdrawn for the 707th Special Mission Group on the night when impeach
DefenseDec. 18, 2024
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Night of chaos: Inside Yoon’s Cabinet in hours before declaration
Public accounts from Cabinet members at the National Assembly have exposed a troubling picture of President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration: One of a clandestine and illegitimate decision that bypassed nearly the entire Cabinet, silenced its opposition, and violated due process. The hours before Yoon's late-night announcement were chaotic, with most Cabinet members kept in the dark. Below is a look at the time leading up to and after the declaration, based on their accou
PoliticsDec. 18, 2024
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Will Yoon be caught up in yet another scandal?
A shaman reportedly close to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, was arrested by the prosecution Tuesday in connection with political funding allegations, drawing attention to whether the case will turn up new allegations related to the presidential couple. The prosecution announced that its joint investigation unit on virtual asset crimes arrested the 64-year-old shaman surnamed Jeon and initiated a search and seizure operation at his house in relation to political funding during the 2018 loc
Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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Seoul vows to restore market credibility amid political turmoil
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Wednesday vowed to restore market credibility amid the ongoing political turmoil, stressing that the indicators that gauge market volatility and economic instability show signs of easing thanks to the swift responses by the government and the country's constitutional and economic systems. "The budget plan and key tax bills were passed in the National Assembly on Dec. 10, demonstrating that Korean economic policies are moving forward through consultatio
Foreign AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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Prosecutors transfer Yoon’s martial law case to CIO
South Korea’s prosecution will transfer the martial law case surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, amid controversy over “overlapping investigations.” On Wednesday, the CIO announced that it had concluded with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office that it will now take over the case involving Yoon and Lee. The move comes 10 days after the CIO requested the prosecution tran
Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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Constitutional Court tells Yoon to submit Cabinet meeting minutes
The Constitutional Court of Korea said Wednesday that it had requested President Yoon Suk Yeol submit the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held just prior to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, as well as other evidence, by Dec. 24. The court, which is tasked with upholding or overturning Yoon’s impeachment, told the press that it sent an email to Yoon on Tuesday regarding the order and asked him to submit a copy of the martial law decree, a list of evidence and a plan to prove the case agai
Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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Death penalty sought for culprits in 'Pattaya barrel murder' case
South Korean prosecutors are requesting the death penalty for two Korean men accused of murdering a Korean tourist in Thailand and discarding the body, court officials said Wednesday. The prosecution requested the Changwon District Court in South Gyeongsang Province to hand down capital punishment to the 39-year-old man surnamed Kim and his 27-year-old accomplice surnamed Lee for charges including murder during robbery, discarding of a body and attempted extortion. Officials requested a life s
Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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Address to be removed from inoculation records to protect children from abusive parents
The South Korean government announced Wednesday that it is seeking to remove addresses from inoculation documents, in a bid to prevent abusive parents from tracking down their separated children. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a notification regarding a legislative proposal on revising the Enforcement Decree of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, which it says will help protect children who have left abusive homes. According to the agency, there had been
Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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NK casualties reported in Ukraine war
North Korean forces have suffered hundreds of casualties in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to estimates by an unnamed US official. In the Kursk region of Russia, which has been partly occupied by Ukrainian forces, a US official was quoted as saying by news reports Tuesday that "several hundred casualties is our latest estimate that (North Korea) has suffered." Around 10,000 North Korean troops are believed to have been deployed to engage in combat alongside Russian
PoliticsDec. 18, 2024
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Military brought live ammunition to parliament during martial law: report
Troops mobilized under the Dec. 3 martial law decree brought with them thousands of rounds of live ammunition for their operations, reports revealed Tuesday. The 707th Special Missions Group of the Army's Special Warfare Command brought 3,960 live ammunition rounds, 1,980 blank rounds and 100 cartridges for stun guns when they were deployed to the National Assembly, the National Election Commission and other areas across Seoul on the night of Dec. 3-4. It was also reported by local broadc
Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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Ex-military commander gives up on arrest warrant hearing
A former chief of the Defense Intelligence Command suspected of being involved in President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration has given up attending his arrest warrant hearing, police officials said Wednesday. Former DIC commander Noh Sang-won has expressed an intent not to attend the hearing scheduled to begin at the Seoul Central District Court at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the officials said. He was taken into police custody earlier this week on suspicion of drafting the martial l
PoliticsDec. 18, 2024
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Martial law, treason, insurrection: When news suddenly felt like foreign language
For many young Koreans, the events following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration were not only bewildering in their context, but also jarring in terms of the language being employed. Terms that once seemed confined to history books and law textbooks -- "martial law," "treason," "insurgency," "insurrection," "anti-state forces" -- suddenly crossed over into daily news. The vocabulary felt foreign to many young Koreans, while th
Social AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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Leaders of ruling, opposition parties to meet Wednesday afternoon
The leaders of Korea's two main parties are expected to discuss matters related to President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, the opposition's involvement in the state affairs and the appointment of key government and judiciary figures during their meeting Wednesday afternoon. Filling the three vacant seats on the Constitutional Court and allowing the main opposition to participate in state affairs are expected to be in the agenda for the meeting. Kwon Seong-dong, the acting chairman
PoliticsDec. 18, 2024
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Military to conduct defense drills against NK drones this week
The South Korean military said Wednesday it will carry out drills this week aimed at sharpening its response capabilities against potential North Korean drone infiltrations as part of efforts to deter provocations from North Korea. The exercise, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, will simulate an attack by the North involving multiple drones in the East Sea and the Yellow Sea, as well as rear areas, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Participating units, including the Army Ground Operations
DefenseDec. 18, 2024
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UN General Assembly adopts resolution on N. Korean human rights for 20th straight year
The UN General Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution on North Korean human rights for the 20th consecutive year, calling for improvement in the reclusive state's human rights record. The adoption by consensus came as Seoul and Washington have stressed the importance of improvement in the North's human rights environment on the grounds that a repressive political climate has led the regime to continue to pursue its weapons development programs without allowing for public comment. The
North KoreaDec. 18, 2024
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US sanctions 2 individuals, 1 entity involved in money laundering network to support N. Korea
The United States on Tuesday sanctioned two individuals and one entity involved in a network that launders illicit funds generated by North Korean IT workers and cybercrime to support Pyongyang, the Treasury Department said. The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added two Chinese nationals and a UAE-based front company, named Green Alpine Trading, LLC, to its sanctions list. It accused them of facilitating money laundering and cryptocurrency conversion services that funne
Foreign AffairsDec. 18, 2024
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[Graphic News] Gap between main opposition, ruling parties reaches record high
The results of a public opinion poll show that the gap in support between the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party has reached its highest level since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration in May 2022. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter over two days on Dec. 12-13 with 1,001 voters aged 18 and older nationwide, support ratings were as follows: Democratic Party of Korea at 52.4 percent, People Power Party at 25.7 percent, Rebuilding Korea Party at 8 perc
PoliticsDec. 18, 2024