Acting president Han Duck-soo was recently summoned by the police for closed-door questioning as a suspect in connection with the short-lived martial law imposition on Dec. 3, authorities said Friday. The special investigation team for police said that Han was among nine of the 12 current and former Cabinet members who participated in the Dec. 3 Cabinet meeting preceding President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial declaration, summoned as either a suspect or a witness. Han was categorized as a suspe

Politics Dec. 20, 2024

Despite ongoing political turmoil in South Korea prompted by the Dec. 3 martial law imposition, acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have reaffirmed the decadeslong "ironclad" alliance between the two countries, Seoul's Ministry of Defense said Friday. In a phone call, Kim "expressed his gratitude for the US government's support of the ironclad South Korea-US alliance despite the current domestic situation," according to Seoul�

Politics Dec. 20, 2024

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

Politics Dec. 19, 2024

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-

Politics Dec. 17, 2024

Han Dong-hoon announced his resignation as leader of the People Power Party on Monday, saying he does not regret asking ruling party lawmakers to vote in favor of Yoon's impeachment. "I will step down from my position as the chief of the ruling party," Han said in a press briefing at the National Assembly. He was elected to lead the People Power Party at its national convention held on July 23. "The collapse of the party's Supreme Council has made it impossible to carry

Politics Dec. 16, 2024

People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon on Monday announced his resignation from his post as chief of the ruling party, saying that he does not regret calling for PPP lawmakers to vote in favor of Yoon's impeachment. "I will step down from my position as the chief of the ruling party," Han said in a press briefing held at the National Assembly. "The collapse of the party's Supreme Council has made it impossible to carry out my duties. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeac

Politics Dec. 16, 2024

Acting President Han Duck-soo and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik on Sunday pledged close cooperation and communication between the Cabinet and the parliament to achieve stable management of state affairs. In line with the latest vow, Woo called for Han to swiftly form a joint consultative body between the government and the Assembly to run state affairs. "The government will closely communicate with the Assembly ... (we) will make efforts to bridge the gaps in the opinions with a

Politics Dec. 15, 2024

The opposition-led National Assembly on Saturday approved a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection tied to his botched declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, making him the third South Korean leader to be suspended from his duties by the parliament. With the impeachment resolution delivered to Yoon at 7:24 p.m., he was suspended from office immediately. The Constitutional Court will decide whether to reinstate or formally oust him following a deliberation process t

Politics Dec. 14, 2024

South Korea's National Assembly commenced a crucial vote on President Yoon Suk Yeol's fate at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The ruling People Power Party said that the party's official stance is to vote against the opposition-led motion to impeach the current president over the conservative president's controversial imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. A presidential impeachment motion requires 200 votes out of a possible 300 to pass. The decision, announced by Rep. Kweon Seong-

Politics Dec. 14, 2024

The ruling People Power Party is likely to take part in the vote on the motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol at 4 p.m. that day. The party line will remain likely against the motion, a ruling party lawmaker told reporters around noon. More news to follow.

Politics Dec. 14, 2024

The opposition-led National Assembly on Thursday passed two bills calling for separate special counsel investigations into insurrection charges against President Yoon Suk Yeol and multiple scandals involving first lady Kim Keon Hee. The bill calling for the appointment of a special prosecutor to look into insurrection charges against Yoon for his botched martial law decree on Dec. 3 passed in a 195-86 vote, with two abstentions, during a parliamentary plenary meeting. Though the ruling People Po

Politics Dec. 12, 2024

A pro-Yoon Suk Yeol figure, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, was elected as the new floor leader of the People Power Party on Thursday. Assuming the role, the five-term lawmaker said he plans to convene a general meeting of party lawmakers to "collect opinions" following President Yoon's latest address Thursday morning, where he defended his decision to declare martial law last week. The party's stance at the time of Rep. Kweon's election was to go against the impeachment bill. &q

Politics Dec. 12, 2024

Ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon said Thursday that it "has been confirmed" that President Yoon Suk Yeol is not willing to participate in the party's plan for his orderly resignation, and stressed that impeachment is the "only valid way" to stop him from exercising his powers as president. Han's remarks, made at a press briefing, follow Yoon's public address on Saturday, in which he said he would hand over the rest of his term and the fate of his p

Politics Dec. 12, 2024

The opposition-led National Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill to downsize next year's government budget by 4.1 trillion won ($2.9 billion) to 673.3 trillion won, marking the first time in constitutional history that the annual budget plan was passed without bipartisan agreement. The bill, introduced by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, passed in a 183-94 vote with one abstention during Tuesday's session. The downsized plan slashes next year's budget by 4.1 trillion wo

Politics Dec. 10, 2024

The ruling People Power Party is reviewing two scenarios to bring about "political stabilization," both involving the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol by end-April next year, reports said Tuesday. People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon received a draft proposal from an intra-party task force launched Monday intending to achieve "political stabilization," that called for the president to step down in either March or April, according to Yonhap New Agency. The next preside

Politics Dec. 10, 2024