The South Korean National Assembly’s impeachment investigation committee, which will serve as a prosecutor in the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol, began preparations Friday for its first hearing set for Dec. 27. The panel, comprising 11 lawmakers from the three opposition parties and 17 legal representatives who will assist the lawmakers, held its second round of meetings on Friday. The People Power Party lawmakers expressed their intention not t

Politics Dec. 20, 2024

The Constitutional Court of Korea, set to deliver a final decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment within 180 days, held its first closed-door meeting Thursday with six justices of the nine-seat court. At the meeting, justices were expected to share opinions on the resolution of whether to uphold or overturn Yoon’s impeachment. Their discussion was based on research conducted by a 10-member constitutional task force on the legal grounds and facts behind Yoon’s Dec. 3

Social Affairs Dec. 19, 2024

As the global entertainment landscape undergoes a seismic shift, South Korea’s film industry stands at a critical juncture. For more than two decades, industry professionals have weathered countless changes -- from the growth of imported films to the debates on screen quotas and the rise of piracy. Yet, nothing compares to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Heads of South Korean production companies say the challenges range from dwindling content and investment to the need for

Film Dec. 19, 2024

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 Affairs Dec. 18, 2024

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 Affairs Dec. 17, 2024

The Constitutional Court of Korea announced Monday that it would prioritize President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial, setting the first preparatory hearing for Dec. 27 at 2 p.m. Lee Jin, director general for the Constitutional Court's Public Information Office, said in a press briefing Monday that justices Lee Mi-sun and Jeong Hyung-sik have been chosen as the two lead justices to oversee the evidence examination and arguments. The chief justice, who leads the ruling by drafting th

Social Affairs Dec. 16, 2024

Actor Lee Dong-hwi, known for his indispensable supporting roles in the mega-hit blockbusters “Extreme Job” (2019) and “The Roundup: Punishment” (2024), recently starred in the independent film “Will We Get Married?,” which opened on Oct. 23. Despite a production budget of approximately 1 billion won, Lee accepted little to no payment for his work. The film’s break-even point (BEP) of 100,000 admissions was high for an indie movie. “I’ve be

Film Dec. 16, 2024

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

Social Affairs Dec. 15, 2024

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

Social Affairs Dec. 14, 2024

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

Social Affairs Dec. 14, 2024

South Korea’s Supreme Court views that President Yoon Suk Yeol delegating his constitutional power to prime minister or other Cabinet members may violate the Constitution, according to the statement obtained by the main opposition party lawmaker. According to the response from the Supreme Court obtained by Rep. Back Hye-ryeon of the Democratic Party of Korea, the country’s highest judicial instance saw “delegating powers to the prime minister or others in a way that only nomina

Social Affairs Dec. 12, 2024

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is currently being detained at a facility in Seoul on alleged collusion with President Yoon Suk Yeol in imposing martial law last week, attempted to take his own life late Tuesday night, a correctional official said Wednesday. Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service under the Justice Ministry, said Kim was discovered during the attempt. “At approximately 11:52 p.m. an officer discovered Kim attempting suicide in the r

Social Affairs Dec. 11, 2024

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- The 4th Red Sea International Film Festival, taking place through Dec. 14 in the historic Al-Balad district of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is out to cement itself as a hub for global cinema. Held under the theme of “The New Home of Film,” this year’s RSIFF highlights a diverse program with 120 films from over 80 countries, including 16 competing in the Red Sea: Competition section. At the center of this celebration of global cinema is a notable focus on Korean

Film Dec. 9, 2024

South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming hand-drawn animation film is about “halfway done,” according to Barunson C&C CEO Seo Woo-sik, who is working on the project. “Director Bong’s new animation film is halfway done,” Seo told The Korea Herald Sunday after an event held on the sidelines of the 4th Red Sea Film Festival taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The festival kicked off on Dec. 5. This is the first time progress on Bong’s first-ever an

Film Dec. 9, 2024

Fabrizio Ferrari, widely recognized here as a friendly Italian chef who is fluent in Korean, has successfully transitioned from a Michelin-starred restaurateur in Italy to a culinary educator and content creator in Korea. Known as Fabri, he brings his rich culinary expertise to his roles as a professor, YouTuber and chef-owner of Fabri Kitchen, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Fabri's culinary journey began in 2003 in Lecco, Italy, where he took over the family business at Al Porticciolo 84,

Food Dec. 7, 2024