Yoon hit with dual summons for questioning over martial law turmoil

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces mounting pressure to appear for questioning as the interagency investigation unit probing the Dec. 3 martial law declaration attempted to summon him on Monday, the same day prosecutors also issued a second summons. The joint investigative unit, consisting of the Korean National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the Criminal Investigation Command of the Defense Minis

Dec. 16, 2024

Will criminal charges buy impeached president time?

Following President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment by the National Assembly on Saturday, attention is now focused on whether Yoon's potential criminal charges could delay his impeachment trial. Under Article 51 of the Constitutional Court Act, the Constitutional Court can cease the review of an impeachment prosecution if the defendant is under investigation for the same charge. The Constitutional Court said Monday that suspending impeachment proceedings under Article 51 is "entirely

Dec. 16, 2024

Court's online forum becomes battleground for public opinions on Yoon Suk Yeol

With President Yoon Suk Yeol suspended from official duties and facing an impeachment trial, a wave of public debate has sparked online, flooding the Constitutional Court of Korea’s website. By Monday morning, 31,354 posts featuring the term “impeachment” had been submitted to the court’s online forum — an extraordinary leap from the typical one to three posts per day. The activity surged almost immediately after Saturday’s parliamentary vote on Yoon’s i

Dec. 16, 2024

From pride of clan to black sheep: Yoon's hometown turns against disgraced president

South Chungcheong Province, home to the populous Yoon family clan, was once an ardent base of support for President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon, of the Papyeong Yoon clan, was celebrated as the first of his clan to be elected president of South Korea. But since his impeachment by the National Assembly on Saturday, banners have been hanging in support of his ouster in the same places that once boasted of the "son of Chungcheong." A substantial portion of the residents in Yoon’s “h

Dec. 16, 2024

Maeil Dairies apologizes over accidental mixing of cleaning solution in milk product

Maeil Dairies Co., a major dairy product manufacturer, on Monday issued an apology over an accident involving the mixing of cleaning solution in one of its sterilized milk products during production. Maeil Dairies CEO Kim Seon-hee said in a statement posted on the company website that a valve operation error momentarily caused cleaning solution to mix with the 200 milliliter sterilized milk product at the company's manufacturing plant in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sept

Dec. 16, 2024

Lawmakers backing Yoon's impeachment face party backlash

Divisions within the People Power Party deepened significantly following the vote to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, with senior lawmakers criticizing party Chair Hang Dong-hoon and lawmakers who disobeyed the party line. Rep. Yoo Young-ha, who previously served as legal counsel for former President Park Geun-hye, criticized fellow party members who cast votes in favor of the impeachment motion. "Heaven will take away your political lives," he wrote on his Facebook accoun

Dec. 15, 2024

Will presidential office prove impenetrable again?

With President Yoon Suk Yeol impeached by the National Assembly on Saturday, questions are mounting over whether the presidential compound -- long considered impenetrable to investigators -- might finally face a full-scale raid. A team of detectives from the National Office of Investigation, tasked with investigating Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law, attempted to raid the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Wednesday. However, the NOI special unit, consisting of 60 personn

Dec. 15, 2024

Constitutional Court begins review of Yoon’s impeachment case

Parliament's resolution to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol now rests with the Constitutional Court of Korea, which was set to review the case starting Monday at 10 a.m. Moon Hyung-bae, the acting chief of the Constitutional Court, vowed to conduct a "swift and fair" trial, which will begin with six justices in the nine-member court. The process is set to start just two days after the South Korean National Assembly passed a motion to impeach President Yoon, a move that immediately

Dec. 15, 2024

Acts of kindness and order define impeachment protests

South Koreans displayed a remarkable sense of civic responsibility and political conviction over 10 days of protests leading up to Saturday's successful motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. The rallies, sparked by the president’s declaration of martial law, were marked by acts of generosity, orderliness and community-driven efforts that left an impression beyond the political sphere. One of the defining characteristics of the protests was how participants took it upon themselv

Dec. 15, 2024

K-water acquires water supply, wastewater treatment facility shares in Vietnam

The Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) started its full-scale entry into Vietnam’s water market on Friday after taking over shares in its water supply and wastewater treatment facilities. According to K-water, the public enterprise signed a memorandum of agreement with Vietnamese water treatment companies Phu My Vinh and GS Minh Hung-Sikico concerning the acquisition of shares in water supply and wastewater treatment facilities currently operating in industrial complexes near Ho C

Dec. 15, 2024

Merchants hold giveaway events to celebrate Yoon’s impeachment

The National Assembly's passage of the motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol has prompted small merchants across the country to offer discounts and free giveaways. Park, 53, who runs a restaurant serving sundae gukbap -- a dish of rice and broth with slices of Korean blood sausage -- in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, has been offering free soju to all customers since 6 p.m. Saturday. "I couldn’t join the rallies because of work. I felt sorry for the protesters. I want to celebr

Dec. 15, 2024

[From the Scene] Young Yoon supporter cries ‘foul’ over impeachment vote

A shrill voice from a bullhorn that pledged unwavering support for President Yoon Suk Yeol, not far from his residence in Hannam-dong, appeared to portend a rocky path ahead for the country as it awaits the Constitutional Court’s decision on Yoon’s impeachment. Shortly after the National Assembly vote that impeached Yoon, his supporters gathered around Hangangjin Station. They felt that they had to protest the “unfair vote” and protect Yoon from “anti-state forces&r

Dec. 14, 2024

[From the Scene] Cheers erupt as parliament votes to impeach Yoon

As National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik read out the results of the impeachment vote Saturday, the crowds filling Seoul's Yeouido district erupted in celebration. Car horns blared through the streets as tens of thousands of protesters, who had gathered throughout the day, broke into jubilant cheers and singing. "I declare that the impeachment motion has passed – 204 in favor, 85 against, 8 abstentions, three null votes," Woo said, confirming the passage of the motion to imp

Dec. 14, 2024

PM issues emergency directive, raises military alert level

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo issued emergency directives to Cabinet members and raised the nationwide military alert levels on Saturday, soon after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol and suspended him from power. Han, now acting president, was scheduled to preside over a Cabinet meeting to review pressing issues across the economy, national security and public safety later in the evening. The meeting was reportedly set to discuss the direction of state affair

Dec. 14, 2024

[From the Scene] Yoon supporters at Gwanghwamun call impeachment vote ‘invalid’

When a speaker holding the microphone said, "This is invalid! President Yoon Suk Yeol, stay strong. We will surely protect you, Mr. President!" the crowd of some 40,000 Yoon supporters gathered at Gwanghwamun erupted in cheers. They shouted that they would gather next week as well. This came moments after the impeachment motion against Yoon passed with a vote of 204 in favor, 85 against, 3 abstentions and 8 invalid votes. The country’s Constitutional Court will now deliberate on

Dec. 14, 2024

At least 12 ruling party lawmakers back impeachment bill

The second parliamentary attempt to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol passed Saturday, with at least 12 lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party supporting the motion. Before the vote, seven People Power Party members had announced they would back the impeachment, despite fierce opposition from the party's mainstream. The vote took place amid escalating divisions within the party, with conflicts between the pro-Han Dong-hoon, the party chairman, and pro-Yoon Suk Yeol factions. The result

Dec. 14, 2024

Young women lead anti-Yoon Suk Yeol protests

Over the last two weeks, women in their 20s and 30s, who had been regarded as apolitical, emerged at the forefront of protests demanding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment escalated. The protests began immediately after Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. After the National Assembly rejected the first impeachment motion on Dec. 7, public anger intensified. That day, protests peaked with an estimated 325,000 people gathered near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, based

Dec. 14, 2024

Prosecution, police clash over control of Yoon investigation

South Korea’s two main law-enforcement bodies are vying to seize control over the investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration on Dec. 3, with both prosecution and police conducting simultaneous investigations, rather than cooperating. On Dec. 8, prosecutors proposed that the police form a joint investigative team, but the police rejected the idea, citing “credibility and fairness” as reasons. Police also asserted they have jurisdiction over the in

Dec. 14, 2024

South Korean president impeached: 4 things to know

South Korea has moved closer to removing President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, with the National Assembly passing a bill initiating the impeachment process. What does this mean and what will happen next? 1. Steps to stability President Yoon Suk Yeol, who plunged the nation into shock with his doomed martial law attempt on Dec. 3, has been suspended from his executive duties immediately. This marks a significant step toward restoring stability. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is to be the acting h

Dec. 14, 2024

Impeachments, coups and deaths: Korea's troubled presidency

President Yoon Suk Yeol has officially become the third South Korean president to face an impeachment trial, following the National Assembly’s passage Saturday of a motion to initiate the process for his removal from office. While Yoon is widely seen as having brought disgrace upon himself due to his ill-fated martial law attempt on Dec. 3, he now joins a long list of troubled Korean presidents. Here are six presidents whose careers have been ended in disgrace or tragedy. 1. Park Geun-

Dec. 14, 2024