K-democracy? Lawmakers flooded with protest texts after impeachment boycott

Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party have faced a barrage of protest text messages after an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol was scrapped due to their decision to boycott the vote. PPP lawmakers have been struggling to deal with an endless stream of text messages, according to local reports, Monday. Some lawmakers have complained that their batteries don’t last more than two hours without a backup even with fully charged phones. Just before and after the impeachme

Dec. 9, 2024

Yoon banned from leaving country

The Justice Ministry said Monday that it had issued a travel ban on South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, shortly after he was booked over his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, a rare move against a sitting president. The decision came after a number of investigative agencies, including the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, requested that the embattled president be banned from traveling overseas hours after the police said they were considering the measure

Dec. 9, 2024

Democratic Party to file complaint against Prime Minister

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea announced Monday its plan to file a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, accusing him of insurrection. Senior Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Seung-rae stated after the party's Supreme Council meeting that it would move forward with charges against the prime minister. According to local reports, the main opposition party is considering a motion to impeach the prime m

Dec. 9, 2024

Over 60,000 sign petition against park named after dictatorial leader

Over 60,000 South Koreans as of Monday have signed an online petition calling for a ban on the commemoration of convicted politicians by government bodies, demanding former military dictator Chun Doo-hwan's penname to be removed from a public park. The petition, posted on the National Assembly's petition page on Nov. 15, requested the parliament to revise the law to ensure that names of those found guilty of violating the law or the Constitution from being on any type of commemorative

Dec. 9, 2024

Travelers uneasy as South Korea works to restore confidence in safety

South Korea’s tourism industry is scrambling to reassure visitors after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law last week caused confusion and travel cancellations. Though the emergency decree was lifted quickly, concerns about safety have prompted some foreign travelers to rethink their plans, raising fears of setbacks for an industry still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Hotels, travel agencies and tour operators report a spike in inquiries from internati

Dec. 9, 2024

Travel restrictions, curfew imposed on USFK soldiers amid martial law turmoil: source

The political turmoil following last week’s martial law crisis in South Korea has heightened tensions in the US military forces stationed in the country, with some units imposing travel restrictions and curfew, according to officials Monday. A sergeant first class at the US Forces Korea's headquarters of Camp Humphreys, a key US military base in Pyeongtaek, about 65 kilometers south of Seoul, told The Korea Herald that the USFK issued a new regulation limiting all service members'

Dec. 9, 2024

Actor who played journalist in ‘A Taxi Driver’ draws parallels between today, 1980

Thomas Kretschmann, the German actor best known in South Korea for his role in the hit 2017 film “A Taxi Driver,” has expressed concern over recent political turmoil in the country. On Sunday, Kretschmann posted on Instagram a still from “A Taxi Driver” showing tanks blocking the roads to Gwangju, captioned, “These are set photos from "Taeksi Woonjunsa (A Taxi Driver)," a film about South Korea’s past, ... at least, that’s what I thought.&rdquo

Dec. 9, 2024

Seoul city to expand late-night cabs, extend bus hours until year-end

The Seoul city government said Monday it will expand the operation of late-night taxis and extend the operation hours of buses until the year-end to meet the surge in demand from year-end gatherings. The city plans to supply 1,000 additional night cabs and set up temporary taxi stops in four locations with high demand for the services, including the Gangnam and Jongno districts. A total of some 160 personnel from the city and taxi industry will be deployed to the taxi stops during the remaining

Dec. 9, 2024

Boat capsizes near Gyeongju, killing 7

Seven people have been confirmed dead after their boat capsized off the coast of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the Pohang Coast Guard Station said Monday. According to the Coast Guard, a 29-ton Geumgwang fishing vessel carrying eight crew members collided with a cargo ship before capsizing at around 5:43 a.m. Out of the eight crew members on the fishing vessel, only seven have been found by the Coast Guard, as a search is still underway to find the remaining crew member. As for the cargo

Dec. 9, 2024

Austin arrives in Japan in his last Asia trip as secretary

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Japan on Sunday in his last trip to the Indo-Pacific as the Pentagon chief, as he seeks to cement the Biden administration's policy legacy of deepening regional alliances and partnerships. Austin arrived at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo, kicking off the Asia swing that has excluded an anticipated stop in South Korea, another key US ally, in the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law attempt last week. During the trip throu

Dec. 8, 2024

Military drafted martial law plans in Nov. at instruction of counterintelligence chief: lawmaker

The military's counterintelligence unit had already drafted plans to implement martial law in November at the instruction of the unit's chief, an opposition lawmaker said Sunday. Rep. Choo Mi-ae of the main opposition Democratic Party made the case, claiming her office has obtained documents indicating that the Counterintelligence Command had prepared the plans in writing at the order of its commander, Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung. Yeo is one of the three commanders who have been suspended

Dec. 8, 2024

[Breaking] Prosecution names President Yoon Suk Yeol as suspect

The Special Prosecutor’s Office said Sunday that President Yoon Suk Yeol is now a suspect facing potential charges of insurrection and abuse of power. Park Se-hyun, head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office who leads the prosecution’s investigation into last week’s martial law turmoil, confirmed the news during a press briefing. “We have received numerous complaints against President Yoon Suk Yeol, and we are conducting investigations accordingly. Procedurally, it is

Dec. 8, 2024

[Breaking] Police raid ex-defense minister’s official residence, office

The Korean National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation initiated a search and seizure operation at the home and office of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Sunday, as part of an investigation into the declaration of martial law by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol late Tuesday. Kim was also put under emergency arrest, and his phone was confiscated by the prosecution on Sunday, as he is suspected of abusing his authority and using violence to exercise power after the

Dec. 8, 2024

Singing K-pop, chanting slogans, masses fill Seoul streets for and against impeachment

The lyrics of "Into the New World," Girls' Generation's 2007 debut single, echoed through the streets of Yeouido on Saturday evening: "Our rough road is before our eyes. Unknown future and walls. I won't change, I'm not giving up." What could have been a scene from a K-pop concert was, in fact, a massive demonstration being held in response to an unthinkable development in South Korean democracy: a president's shock declaration of martial law. The str

Dec. 7, 2024

Impeachments, coups and deaths: Dark side of Korean presidency

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday narrowly survived impeachment as his ruling People Power Party, united in the National Assembly to thwart the opposition's effort to oust him from office. This offers Yoon only momentary relief, however, as the opposition parties threaten to push for his impeachment again over his declaration of martial law earlier this week. The short-lived martial law decree, along with an array of controversies, including legal risks related to his spouse, have alr

Dec. 7, 2024

Protesters offered prepaid coffees, snacks as support pours in from faraway

Participants at the anti-President Yoon Suk Yeol rallies near the National Assembly in Yeouido on Saturday were provided with coffee, snacks and meals paid for by supporters. Some restaurants and cafes near the protest sites were flooded with preorders from citizens who paid in advance for food and drinks for unknown protesters. Pictures showing proof of prepayments made at restaurants, cafes and bakeries near the parliament building, as well as Gwanghwamun Square, where tens of thousands

Dec. 7, 2024

Main opposition files impeachment motion against Interior Minister Lee Sang-min

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Saturday filed an impeachment motion against Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, accusing him of involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law this week. The liberal party said in a statement that it submitted the impeachment motion to the National Assembly at 10:30 a.m. The party plans to report the motion during Saturday’s plenary session, where the vote on President Yoon’s impeachment

Dec. 7, 2024

Ahn Cheol-soo says will back impeachment unless Yoon outlines resignation plan

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a three-time presidential candidate and member of the ruling People Power Party, announced his support for a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, breaking from his party's official stance. As the party reportedly leans toward going against the vote set to be held Saturday afternoon, Ahn urged President Yoon and the party to set a timeline for his resignation and propose a plan for forming a neutral national unity cabinet. "Now that President Yoon has entrusted

Dec. 7, 2024

Film industry personnel call for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment

South Korean film industry professionals, including actors Gang Dong-won, Kim Go-eun and Jeon Do-yeon have called for the dismissal and arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol. A statement released Saturday morning, endorsed by 2,518 individual film professionals representing 77 industry organizations -- including the Screen Actors Guild of Korea, Directors Guild of Korea, and Producers Guild of Korea -- condemned Yoon’s sudden declaration of martial law and demanded his resignation. The stateme

Dec. 7, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol put Seoul-Washington alliance to trust test, says international think tank

A researcher at the V-Dem Institute, an independent research organization that monitors trends in democracy, has slammed President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise declaration of martial law and warned it could strain ties with the US. Fabio Angiolillo, a researcher at the institute, based at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, told The Korea Herald Saturday that Yoon's declaration was “an outright attempt to curb liberal, electoral, and participatory principles of democracy.&rdquo

Dec. 7, 2024