Joint investigation team attempts raid on Presidential Security Service

A joint investigation team was unable to seize material related to President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration from the office of the Presidential Security Service on Tuesday, with its raid attempt foiled by the security officials. According to the investigation team, the PSS will decide later whether to cooperate with the raid and inform the investigators Wednesday. Investigators of the joint team arrived at the security service headquarters, located inside the presidential offic

PoliticsDec. 17, 2024

Foreign ministry holds 1st task force meeting on US policy under incoming Trump administration

The foreign ministry said Tuesday it held its first task force meeting on reviewing its US policy ahead of the launch of the second Donald Trump administration. The meeting, presided over by First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-hyun, came as South Korea is crafting its foreign policy approach to address alliance and security issues with the incoming Trump administration as his second term begins next month. Such efforts have become more important as South Korea is reeling from the fallout of t

Foreign AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Top military officer inspects partially restored guard post inside DMZ

South Korea's top military officer on Tuesday visited a partially restored guard post inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas to inspect troop readiness against North Korean threats, his office said. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo's visit came amid concerns of North Korea possibly undertaking provocative acts in light of South Korea's recent political turmoil. Kim instructed troops to maintain a posture to "immediately" respond to a

DefenseDec. 17, 2024

Number of immigrants in S. Korea hits record 1.56 million in 2024

The number of immigrants in South Korea, which includes foreign nationals residing here as well as naturalized citizens, reached a record high of over 1.56 million in 2024, according to government data released Tuesday. Similarly, the number of employed foreign nationals also hit an all-time high at 1.01 million. The number of those having resided in South Korea for at least 91 days, aged 15 and above, reached about 1,561,000 as of May, compared to 1.48 million tallied a year earlier, according

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

'Report IU to the CIA': Bizarre online trolling of celebs who support Yoon impeachment

Users of local websites with politically conservative inclinations are encouraging each other to file online reports to the US Central Intelligence Agency against K-pop star IU and other celebrities who publicly supported protests calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. The anonymous users have posted screenshots of their reports to the US federal agency that collects and analyzes foreign intelligence. "IU can't go to America now," read the title of an anonymous po

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

As early presidential election looms, opposition chief seeks to delay trial

The chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, has requested the judges be changed in one of his criminal trials, as an early presidential election appears likely with impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol awaiting the final verdict on his removal from office by the Constitutional Court. Currently a defendant in four separate trials, Lee has regularly been absent at the National Assembly as his court schedules often collide with plenary sessions and other regular parliamentary dutie

PoliticsDec. 17, 2024

In North Korea, divorce could land you in labor camp: report

North Koreans who file for divorce are immediately subject to forced labor, a US-based news outlet recently reported, citing sources from within the communist state. According to a Radio Free Asia report on Monday, an anonymous source living in Yanggang Province, North Korea said that 12 couples saw their divorces finalized in court on Dec. 13. Immediately after the ruling, each person was sent to a military labor camp, the report said. "Last year, only the person who initially filed for

North KoreaDec. 17, 2024

Parental leave benefits to increase in January

Starting next year, the upper limit for parental leave benefits in South Korea will increase to 2.5 million won ($1,740) per month, up 1 million won from the current cap, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced Tuesday. The changes, approved at a Cabinet meeting, will take effect Jan. 1, 2025. Workers will also be able to apply simultaneously for parental leave, used by those raising young children, and maternity leave, used by the parents of newborns. If employers do not approve parental

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Acting president Han holds 1st Cabinet meeting amid opposition pressure

Acting President Han Duck-soo on Tuesday faced mounting pressure from the liberal bloc to approve the six contentious bills introduced by the opposition, as he presided over his first regular Cabinet meeting after assuming the role as acting president. Prime Minister Han immediately assumed the role of acting president following President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment by the National Assembly on Saturday, in accordance with the Constitution. The six bills, which were passed in the opposition-

PoliticsDec. 17, 2024

Yoon impeachment trial’s presiding justice under spotlight

With South Korea’s Constitutional Court prioritizing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment proceedings, concerns surfaced over the role and potential influence of Justice Jeong Hyeong-sik, the chief justice in Yoon’s trial. Jeong, 63, was directly appointed by Yoon in December last year for a six-year term. Though the president seems to have no direct ties with the justice, they are connected through Park Sun-young, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Park was app

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Yoon to appear in court, lawyer decries investigation 'frenzy'

  President Yoon Suk Yeol will head to the Constitutional Court to deliver his stance on the impeachment resolution, his lawyer told reporters on Tuesday, calling the ongoing investigations into the alleged insurrection a "frenzy." Seok Dong-hyun, a known confidant of Yoon who was appointed as his lawyer, said that Yoon will “convey his stance in court confidently and with conviction,” stating that the insurrection charges cannot be established. Though the date for pub

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Ministry unveils workplace safety pictograms for foreign workers

The Ministry of Employment and Labor, in collaboration with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, announced Tuesday the rollout of 20 safety signs, or pictograms, designed to help foreign national workers easily identify workplace hazards and precautions, regardless of proficiency in the Korean language. These pictograms will be distributed to workplaces employing foreign workers particularly in manufacturing industries. Those pictograms were created based on feedback collected from m

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Cold snap to hit S. Korea from Wednesday

The prolonged cold temperatures are set to intensify nationwide starting Wednesday, with temperatures feeling as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius set to continue until the end of December. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, morning lows on Wednesday will range between minus 12 C and 1 C nationwide, with temperatures in some parts of the Greater Seoul area feeling as low as minus 14 C. Daytime temperatures will hover between minus 1 C and 7 C -- but such temperatures are expecte

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Arrest warrant issued for ex-Army chief

A military court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for Army Gen. Park An-su, formerly Army chief of staff, on charges related to his involvement in impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The arrest warrant was initially sought by the prosecution's special investigation unit probing Yoon's martial law decree on Sunday. Park has been suspended from his position as Army chief of staff since Thursday, as the Defense Ministry deemed him unable to perform

DefenseDec. 17, 2024

F-15K upgrade to cost W1tr extra due to inflation: DAPA

The budget for a project to enhance the South Korean Air Force's key fighter aircraft, the F-15K, has risen by over 1 trillion won ($697 million) due to increasing labor and material costs in the defense industry, according to the country's arms procurement agency. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that the agency's defense acquisition program promotion committee has approved the final plan for the project on Monday. With a focus on improving the key aviatio

DefenseDec. 17, 2024

Government to citizens: Relax and enjoy year-end gatherings

Politicians and government officials alike are encouraging South Koreans not to cancel their regular year-end meetings, after the Dec. 3 martial law and subsequent political turmoil brought a fall in the country's restaurant sales. Reports have indicated that small enterprises in particular have been hit hard in the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent declaration of martial law. The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise on Sunday released a statement that small business owne

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Parties clash over Han Duck-soo's authority to approve justices for Yoon Suk Yeol trial

South Korea’s main parties clashed Tuesday over whether acting President Han Duck-soo possesses the authority to approve Assembly nominations for new Constitutional Court justices, a move that could make it easier to confirm President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment. Confirming the impeachment requires the approval of at least six Constitutional Court justices. With three of the nine justice positions vacant, Yoon would not be impeached without a unanimous decision by all incumbent justi

PoliticsDec. 17, 2024

Clear communication with Trump essential for S. Korea: expert

Ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, it is more crucial than ever for South Korea and the United States to engage in clear and strategic communication, says Ted Gover, director of the Tribal Administration Program at Claremont Graduate University and an expert on US diplomacy in Asia. “If I were the South Korean president, I would take a page from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s playbook,” said Gover, referring to the recent meeting at Mar-a-Lago in

Foreign AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Seoul Plaza ice rink to reopen Friday

The iconic seasonal ice skating rink at Seoul Plaza is set to reopen Friday and operate until Feb. 9 next year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The city government has opened an ice rink every winter since 2004, except during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rink operates every day -- 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Sunday to Friday with hours extended until 11 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays. The entrance fee has remained unchanged at 1,000 won (70 cents) for 20 years, covering skate rental,

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Prosecution extends detention of ex-defense chief in martial law probe

The detention period of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been extended until Dec. 28, the prosecution said Tuesday, as he has refused to cooperate in the investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Kim was put under emergency arrest on Dec. 8 as a key suspect in the martial law-related probe and his legal detention period was set to end 10 days later on Tuesday. The prosecution applied for the extension of his detention period earlier this week and

PoliticsDec. 17, 2024