South Korea
SKoreans turn funeral wreaths, K-pop light sticks into political protest tools
South Koreans are using flower wreaths and K-pop light sticks as symbols of political protest during the country’s most significant political crisis in decades, triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law in December.
Thousands of flower wreaths, many criticizing Yoon and other officials involved in the martial law controversy, have been sent to his residence and government buildings linked to the impeachment process, AP reports.
Local media estimate the number of wreaths delivered to government offices at several thousand. Messages range from moderate to extreme, reflecting the deepening political divide.
Funeral wreaths with black ribbons and white chrysanthemums, as well as celebratory arrangements of roses and orchids, cost up to $75 and carry messages of both support and condemnation.
South Korea's impeached president arrested over martial law declaration
This protest tactic has seen growing media attention. Analysis from Big Kinds, a database of over 100 local news outlets, shows that media coverage of wreath protests in 2024 was four times higher than in 2023. Though the exact origin of this method is unclear, it first appeared in the early 2010s.
While many flower shops deny receiving orders for protest wreaths, some have become central to the movement. Yoon Miyoung, owner of Dongsung Flower in Seoul, said her shop has delivered over 1,000 wreaths since December, primarily for pro-Yoon supporters.
“Seoul is running out of flowers,” she remarked, noting that about a third of her customers are in their 20s and 30s, with orders also coming from Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands.
Experts view wreath protests as a unique but polarizing form of demonstration. Sociology professor Choi Hang-sub from Kookmin University compared the messages on wreaths to offline hate speech, akin to malicious online comments.
Jungwon University’s Kim Hern Sik described the method as confined to certain political groups, limiting its broader appeal.
Environmental concerns have also been raised, as most wreaths use non-eco-friendly materials. However, Kim highlighted younger generations’ innovative protest methods, such as using K-pop light sticks at rallies.
During pro-impeachment protests last December, demonstrators wielded light sticks from bands like BIGBANG and NCT, valued at around $50, to express their views.
The crisis began on December 3 when Yoon imposed martial law and deployed troops to the National Assembly, leading to his impeachment on December 13.
Arrested on January 19, Yoon now faces rebellion charges as the Constitutional Court deliberates his fate within the next 180 days.
1 week ago
South Korea backs Bangladesh's interim govt, reforms
Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Ambassador Lee Jeongkyu w on Thursday reaffirmed his country's support for Bangladesh's interim government and its reform efforts.
He extended South Korea's support to Bangladesh during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He expressed satisfaction with the robust trade, investment, and economic ties between the two countries, highlighting that 150 Korean companies are operating in Bangladesh, with more seeking investment opportunities in key sectors.
South Korean special envoy to pay “goodwill” visit to Bangladesh Jan 22-23
The Foreign Secretary informed the Special Envoy about Bangladesh’s ongoing reform initiatives following the July-August revolution to promote transparency and accountability.
The Foreign Secretary also mentioned the active role of the interim government in creating a conducive environment for organising the election to ensure a smooth transition of power.
He emphasised Bangladesh’s interest in attracting Korean investment in agriculture, high-tech RMG, smart city development and electronics.
Jashim Uddin stressed the importance of enhanced business-to-business and Chamber-to-Chamber engagements and urged swift progress on the Economic Partnership Agreement to strengthen bilateral trade and investment.
The Special Envoy praised the Bangladeshi workers for their contribution and hard work.
The Foreign Secretary praised ROK’s Employment Permit System (EPS).
He also acknowledged ROK’s transformation into a developed nation, describing it as an inspiration for Bangladesh’s own development aspirations.
Dr Yunus urges Meta to intensify efforts against misinformation, fake news
He also praised ROK’s global soft power, including the cultural influence of K-Pop and K-Dramas, which continue to win hearts worldwide, including in Bangladesh.
The Foreign Secretary also thanked ROK, being supportive to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue, with the Special Envoy reaffirming Korea’s support.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to advancing high-level engagements to deepen Bangladesh-ROK relations.
2 weeks ago
NKorean soldiers captured in Ukraine haven't shown desire to defect: Seoul spy
South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Monday that two North Korean soldiers who were captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kursk border region haven’t expressed a desire to seek asylum in South Korea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the social media platform X that he’s willing to hand over the soldiers to North Korea if the country’s authoritarian leader, Kim Jong Un, arranges for an exchange with Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. Zelenskyy added that “there may be other options” for North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return home, and a video released by his government indicated that at least one of the captured soldiers expressed a desire to remain in Ukraine.
In a closed-door briefing at South Korea’s National Assembly, the National Intelligence Service confirmed its participation in the questioning of the North Korean soldiers by Ukrainian authorities. The agency said the soldiers haven’t expressed a request to resettle in South Korea, according to two lawmakers who attended the meeting.
The agency said it was willing to discuss the matter with Ukrainian authorities if the soldiers eventually do ask to go to South Korea. About 34,000 North Koreans have defected to capitalist rival South Korea to avoid economic hardship and political suppression at home, mostly since the late 1990s.
Koo Byoungsam, spokesperson of South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said facilitating the asylum of the North Korean soldiers would require “legal reviews, including on international law, and consultations with related nations.”
“There’s nothing we can say at the current stage,” Koo said.
Read: Ukraine claims to have captured 2 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia
Seoul’s spy agency believes that about 300 North Korean soldiers have died and another 2,700 have been injured while fighting against Ukrainian forces, in what represents North Korea's first involvement in large-scale conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War.
The agency assessed that the North Koreans are struggling to adapt to drones and other elements of modern warfare. They are further disadvantaged by the crude tactics of their Russian commanders, who have thrown them in assault campaigns without providing rear-fire support, according to Lee Seong Kweun, a lawmaker who attended the agency’s briefing.
The agency said memos found on dead North Korean soldiers indicated that they had been ordered to commit suicide before being captured, according to Lee. The agency said one North Korean soldier, facing the threat of being captured by Ukrainian forces, shouted “General Kim Jong Un” and tried to detonate a hand grenade before he was shot and killed.
Zelenskyy confirmed the capture of the North Korean soldiers on Saturday, days after Ukraine, facing a slow Russian onslaught in the east, began pressing new attacks in Kursk to retain ground captured in a lightning incursion in August — the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II.
Moscow’s counterattack has left Ukrainian forces outstretched and demoralized, killing and wounding thousands and retaking more than 40% of the 984 square kilometers (380 square miles) of Kursk that Ukraine had seized.
Moon Seong Mook, a retired South Korean brigadier general, said the high death toll for North Korean soldiers was predictable, as they would not have been sufficiently prepared for an unfamiliar mission in the terrain of the Kursk region, which is vastly different from North Korea’s mountainous landscape.
Read more: North Korea tests hypersonic missile aimed at remote Pacific areas
Another disadvantage for the North Koreans is that they are not conducting independent operations but are being thrust into combat under Russian commanders, possibly struggling with unfamiliar tactics and communication issues due to language barriers, said Moon, who has taken part in numerous military talks with North Korea. The North Korean forces could be operating special surveillance teams to arrest or execute attempted deserters, he said.
“The current battlefield environment, combined with drones and other technologies, have created situations North Korean soldiers have never encountered before,” Moon said. “They are also being deployed in large numbers in wide-open fields, where there is no place to hide, in continuous battles to retake the area, and that seems to be where the casualties are coming from.”
North Korea’s decadeslong financial troubles, which have forced many soldiers to grow their own food or spend long hours deployed in construction and other work to sustain the national economy, could also have impacted the quality of training they receive at home, Moon said.
Still, there are concerns in Seoul that North Korea’s participation in the Ukraine crisis poses a significant threat to South Korea, as North Korean forces may gain crucial combat experience and Russia may provide technology transfers that could enhance North Korea’s nuclear-armed army.
3 weeks ago
South Korea presidential security chief questioned amid tensions
South Korean police interrogated the head of the presidential security service on Friday amidst escalating tensions between agencies over the detainment of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, reports AP.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and the police plan a renewed effort to detain Yoon, investigating whether his brief declaration of martial law on December 3 constituted an attempted rebellion. The security service had previously obstructed an attempt to detain Yoon at his official residence, where he has been confined for weeks.
South Korean anti-corruption agency receives new court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon
Presidential security chief Park Jong-joon, defending his role as the president’s protector, warned of potential "bloodshed" and faced criticism that the security agency is acting as Yoon's private army. After ignoring two summonses, Park appeared for questioning over allegations of justice obstruction, following last week’s clash where security forces repelled investigators attempting to detain Yoon.
Authorities are considering arresting Park and other security leaders to facilitate Yoon’s detainment. Yoon remains at his fortified residence in Seoul, with heightened security measures, including barbed wire and blocked roads.
South Korean anti-graft agency asks police to measures to detain impeached Yoon
On December 3, Yoon briefly declared martial law, deploying troops around the National Assembly. This measure was overturned the same day when lawmakers breached the blockade and voted to lift martial law. Subsequently, Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after his impeachment on December 14, with the Constitutional Court deliberating on whether to remove him from office or reinstate him.
Park criticized the investigation, urging an approach that respects Yoon’s status as president and the dignity of the nation. He stated that he sought mediation from acting leader Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok and Yoon’s legal team but received no satisfactory response.
Yoon’s lawyers have accused the police of undermining the presidential security service, arguing that national security is being disregarded. While the Presidential Security Act mandates protecting the president, legal experts argue that the security service’s actions might be unlawful if they obstruct court-ordered detainments.
South Korean fire fighters tackle blaze in commercial building in Seongnam
National Court Administration head Cheon Dae-yeop remarked that unwarranted resistance to such orders could constitute a crime. Although sitting presidents enjoy broad immunity from prosecution, charges of rebellion or treason are exceptions.
Yoon’s legal team questioned the legitimacy of the detention warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court, asserting that the anti-corruption office lacks authority to investigate rebellion or enforce detainment at a location potentially linked to military secrets without the resident's consent.
The lawyers have called for the anti-corruption agency to either indict Yoon or seek a formal arrest warrant, which requires a court hearing. However, they insist Yoon would only comply with an arrest warrant from the Seoul Central District Court, accusing the agency of judge-shopping by choosing a more favourable jurisdiction.
3 weeks ago
North Korea tests hypersonic missile aimed at remote Pacific areas
North Korea said Tuesday its latest weapons test was a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to strike remote targets in the Pacific as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further expand his collection of nuclear-capable weapons to counter rival nations.
The North Korean state media report came a day after South Korea’s military said it detected North Korea launching a missile that flew 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The launch, conducted weeks before Donald Trump returns as U.S. president, came off a torrid year in weapons testing.
North Korean troops suffering heavy battlefield losses: Ukraine's military
North Korea demonstrated multiple weapons systems last year that can target its neighbors and the United States, including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and there are concerns that its military capabilities could advance further through technology transfers from Russia, as the two countries align over the war in Ukraine.
North Korea in recent years has flight tested various intermediate-range missiles, which if perfected, could reach the U.S. Pacific military hub of Guam. In recent months, North has been testing combining these missiles with purported hypersonic warheads to improve their survivability.
North Korea since 2021 has been testing various hypersonic weapons designed to fly at more than five times the speed of sound. The speed and maneuverability of such weapons aim to withstand regional missile defense systems. However, it’s unclear whether these missiles are consistently flying at the speeds the North claims.
North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine
The North’s state media said Kim supervised Monday’s launch, and that the weapon traveled 1,500 kilometers (932 miles), during which it reached two different peaks of 99.8 kilometers (62 miles) and 42.5 kilometers (26.4 miles) and achieved a speed amounting to 12 times the speed of sound, before accurately striking a sea target.
Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the South Korean military believes North Korea was exaggerating capabilities of the system, saying the missile covered less distance and that there was no second peak.
Lee said the test was likely a followup to another hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile test last April and said it would be difficult to use such systems in a relatively small territory like the Korean Peninsula. He said the South Korean and U.S. militaries were continuing to analyze the missile.
Kim described the missile as a crucial achievement in his goals to bolster the North’s nuclear deterrence by building an arsenal “no one can respond to,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
“The hypersonic missile system will reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific region that can affect the security of our state,” the agency quoted Kim as saying.
Kim reiterated that his nuclear push was aimed at countering “different security threats the hostile forces posed to our state,” but KCNA didn’t mention any direct criticism toward Washington, Seoul or Tokyo.
The launch took place while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Seoul for talks with South Korean allies over the North Korean nuclear threat and other issues.
North Korean leader calls for expanding his nuclear forces in the face of alleged US threats
In a news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Monday, Blinken condemned North Korea’s launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions against the North's weapons programs. He also reiterated concerns about the growing alignment between North Korea and Russia in Moscow’s war on Ukraine. He described the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow as a “two-way street,” saying Russia has been providing military equipment and training to the North and “intends to share space and satellite technology.”
According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow’s war campaign. There are concerns that Russia could transfer to North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, which could potentially enhance the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear-armed military.
At a year-end political conference, Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy and criticized the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen security cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo, which he described as a “nuclear military bloc for aggression.”
North Korean state media did not specify Kim’s policy plans or mention any specific comments about Trump. During his first term as president, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North’s nuclear program.
North Korea tests exploding drones as Kim calls for mass production
Even if Trump returns to the White House, a quick resumption of diplomacy with North Korea could be unlikely. Kim’s strengthened position — built on his expanded nuclear arsenal, deepening alliance with Russia and the weakening enforcement of U.S. international sanctions — presents new challenges to resolving the nuclear standoff, experts say.
4 weeks ago
South Korean anti-graft agency asks police to measures to detain impeached Yoon
South Korea’s anti-corruption agency has requested that police take over efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after its investigators failed to bring him to custody following a standoff with the presidential security service last week.
The agency and police confirmed the discussion on Monday, hours before the one-week warrant for Yoon’s detention was to expire.
The Seoul Western District Court last Tuesday issued a warrant to detain Yoon and a separate warrant to search his residence after the embattled president defied authorities by refusing to appear for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3. But executing those warrants is complicated as long as Yoon remains in his official residence.
Yoon has described his power grab as a necessary act of governance against a liberal opposition bogging down his agenda with its legislative majority and has vowed to “fight to the end” against efforts to oust him. While martial law lasted only several hours, it set off turmoil that has shaken the country’s politics, diplomacy and financial markets for weeks and exposed the fragility of South Korea’s democracy while society is deeply polarized.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials will likely seek a new court warrant to extend the window for Yoon’s detention, according to police, which said it was internally reviewing the agency’s request. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the anti-corruption agency will make another attempt to detain Yoon on Monday before the deadline expires at midnight.
The anti-corruption agency has faced questions about its competence after failing to detain Yoon on Friday, and police have the resources to possibly make a more forceful attempt to detain him.
Yoon’s legal team claimed in a statement that the agency’s move to delegate execution of the detainment warrant to police is illegal, saying there’s no legal grounds for it to delegate certain parts of an investigation process to another agency. Yoon’s lawyers had submitted an objection to the warrants against the president on Thursday, but the Seoul Western District Court dismissed the challenge on Sunday.
Yoon’s legal team has said it will file complaints against the anti-corruption agency’s chief prosecutor, Oh Dong-woon, and approximately 150 investigators and police officers involved in Friday’s detention attempt, which they claim was unlawful. The team said it will also file complaints with public prosecutors against the country’s acting defense minister and police chief for ignoring the presidential security service’s request to provide additional forces to block the detention attempt.
South Korean investigators attempt to detain impeached President Yoon
The anti-corruption agency, which leads a joint investigation with police and military investigators, has been weighing charges of rebellion after Yoon declared martial law and dispatched troops to surround the National Assembly. Lawmakers who managed to get past the blockade voted to lift martial law hours later.
Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the opposition-dominated National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14, accusing him of rebellion, and his fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.
Dozens of anti-corruption agency investigators and assisting police officers attempted to detain Yoon on Friday but retreated from his residence in Seoul after a tense standoff with the presidential security service that lasted more than five hours.
After getting around a military unit guarding the residence’s grounds, the agency’s investigators and police were able to approach within 200 meters (about 218 yards) of Yoon’s residential building but were stopped by a barricade comprising around 10 vehicles and approximately 200 members of the presidential security forces and troops. The agency said it wasn’t able to visually confirm whether Yoon was inside the residence.
The agency has urged the country’s acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, to instruct the presidential security service to comply with their execution of the detainment warrant. Choi has yet to publicly comment on the issue.
In a video message on Sunday, Park Jong-joon, chief of the presidential security service, hit back against criticism that his organization has become Yoon’s private army, saying it has legal obligations to protect the incumbent president. Park said he instructed his members to not use violence during Friday’s standoff and called for the anti-corruption agency and police to change their approach.
Warrant to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon sought
Park and his deputy defied summonses on Saturday from police, who planned to question them over the suspected obstruction of official duty following Friday’s events. Staff from the presidential security service were seen installing barbed wire near the gate and along the hills leading up to Yoon’s residence over the weekend, possibly in preparation for another detention attempt.
Yoon’s lawyers argued the detention and search warrants against the president cannot be enforced at his residence due to a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from search without the consent of the person in charge — which would be Yoon. They also argue the anti-corruption office lacks the legal authority to investigate rebellion charges.
Hundreds of South Koreans rallied near Yoon’s residence for hours into early Monday, wrapping themselves in silver-coated mats against the freezing temperatures. It was their second consecutive night of protests, with demonstrators calling for his ouster and arrest.
1 month ago
South Korean fire fighters tackle blaze in commercial building in Seongnam
Hundreds of people were rescued or evacuated after a fire broke out at a large commercial building in the South Korean city of Seongnam on Friday, fire officials said.
More than 260 firefighters and 80 vehicles were deployed to the scene of the blaze, which was extinguished about an hour and a half after it was first reported at around 4:30 p.m., according to the Gyeonggi provincial fire department.
South Korean investigators attempt to detain impeached President Yoon
The department said emergency workers have so far rescued 240 people, while another 70 managed to exit the eight-story building unaided.
About 28 people sustained light injuries, including smoke inhalation, but there were no reports of serious injuries. The department said emergency workers were still searching the site to ensure no one was trapped inside.
The department said the fire started at a restaurant on the first floor. The cause wasn’t immediately known.
1 month ago
South Korean investigators attempt to detain impeached President Yoon
South Korean investigators arrived at the presidential residence with a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law, but faced resistance from presidential security staff as hundreds of Yoon’s supporters gathered outside vowing to protect him.
It’s the latest confrontation in a political crisis that has paralyzed South Korean politics and seen two heads of state impeached in under a month. It began on Dec. 3 when Yoon, apparently frustrated that his policies were blocked by an opposition-dominated parliament, declared martial law and dispatched troops to surround the National Assembly.
Parliament overturned the declaration within hours in an unanimous vote and impeached Yoon himself on Dec. 14, while South Korean authorities opened a criminal investigation into the events. Yoon has remained defiant, ignoring requests for questioning and vowing to fight to remain in office.
Four hours after dozens of investigators and police officers were seen entering the gate of the residence in Seoul to execute a warrant for Yoon’s detention, the dramatic scene appeared to have developed into a standoff.
The anti-corruption agency didn’t immediately reply to questions about whether investigators successfully entered Yoon’s residential building, but South Korea’s YTN television reported scuffles as investigators and police confronted the presidential security forces.
Seok Dong-hyeon, one of several lawyers on Yoon’s legal team, confirmed that the investigators arrived at the building but said it was unlikely that they would be able to detain the president on Friday. He said the agency’s efforts to detain Yoon were “reckless” and showed an “outrageous discard for law.”
South Korea’s Defense Ministry confirmed that the investigators and police officers got past a military unit guarding the residence’s grounds before arriving at the building. The presidential security service, which controls the residence itself, refused to comment on whether its members were confronting investigators and whether they planned to block the detention attempt.
The hourslong standoff prompted the liberal opposition Democratic Party to call on the country’s acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, to order the presidential security service to stand down. Choi, who also serves as finance minister, didn’t immediately comment on the situation.
“We warn presidential security service chief Park Jong-joon not to further participate in a rebellion. Do not drag the upright staff of the presidential security service and other public officials into the depths of crime,” said Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic lawmaker. Choi must “remember that swiftly addressing the rebellion and preventing further chaos is your responsibility,” Jo said.
Read: Warrant to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon sought
In a defiant New Year’s message to conservative supporters rallying outside his residence, Yoon said he will “fight to the end” against “anti-state forces.” His lawyers have described the warrant as “invalid” and “illegal,” and said that the presidential security force could arrest police trying to execute it.
Thousands of police officers gathered at Yoon’s residence and formed a perimeter around a growing group of pro-Yoon protesters, who braved subfreezing temperatures for hours, waving South Korean and American flags while chanting slogans in his support. There were no immediate reports of major clashes.
A Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon’s detention on Tuesday after he evaded multiple requests to appear for questioning and blocked searches of his office in Seoul, hindering an investigation into whether his ill-conceived power grab on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion.
The warrant is valid for one week, and investigators may make another attempt to detain Yoon if they are unable to do so on Friday.
Investigators from the anti-corruption agency were earlier seen loading boxes into several vehicles before leaving their building in the city of Gwacheon early in the morning. Television footage later showed some of those vehicles weaving between police buses that tightly packed and barricaded the streets near Yoon’s residence.
If Yoon is detained, the anti-corruption agency will have 48 hours to either request a warrant for his formal arrest or release him. Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested over their roles in the period of martial law.
Yoon Kap-keun, another lawyer representing the president, described the investigators’ efforts to detain him as illegal and said they would plan to pursue unspecified legal steps against the anti-corruption agency.
Read more: Motion to impeach South Korea’s acting president submitted
Yoon Suk Yeol’s lawyers have argued the court’s detainment warrant is invalid, claiming that the anti-corruption agency lacks the legal authority to investigate rebellion charges. They also accuse the court of bypassing a law that says locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge.
The lawyers have said police officers would be exceeding their legal authority if they assist in detaining Yoon, and could face arrest by either the “presidential security service or any citizens.” They didn’t elaborate further on the claim.
Critics accused Yoon of inciting his supporters to obstruct attempts to detain him. South Korean law permits anyone to make an arrest to stop an active crime.
The Democratic Party, which drove the legislative vote that impeached Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law, accused the president of trying to mobilize his supporters to block his detention and called for law enforcement authorities to execute the warrant immediately.
Yoon Kap-keun, the president’s lawyer, filed a challenge with the Seoul Western District Court on Thursday to block both the detention warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol and a related search warrant for his residence. The lawyer argued that both warrants violate criminal laws and the constitution.
Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended following a National Assembly vote to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law, which lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.
To formally end Yoon’s presidency, at least six justices on the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor.
The National Assembly voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case.
Facing growing pressure, the new acting president, Choi, appointed two new justices on Tuesday, which could increase the chances of the court upholding Yoon’s impeachment.
Yoon’s imposition of martial law ended after only six hours when the National Assembly voted 190-0 to lift it despite attempts by heavily armed soldiers to prevent them from voting.
Yoon has defended his martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, portraying it as a temporary warning against the Democratic Party, which he has described as an “anti-state” force obstructing his agenda with its legislative majority.
1 month ago
SKorea air crash investigators extract black box data as grieving families mourn the victims
Grieving relatives of the victims of the South Korea plane crash gathered at the site to pay respects to their loved ones on New Year’s Day, as officials said they've extracted data from one of the retrieved black boxes to find the exact cause of the crash.
All but two of the 181 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air died when it crashed at Muan International Airport, in southern South Korea, on Sunday.
Video showed the aircraft without its landing gear deployed landing on its belly at high speed and then skidding off the end of the runaway into a concrete fence and bursting into flames. The footage showed the plane was experiencing an apparent engine problem in addition to the landing gear malfunction.
Investigators say the pilot received a warning from air traffic controllers of possible bird strikes and the plane issued a distress signal before the crash.
The Transport Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that it has completed works to extract data from the cockpit voice recorder — one of the two black boxes recovered from the wreckage. It said the data would be converted into audio files. A damaged flight data recorder will be sent to the United States for an analysis, the ministry added.
All of the victims were South Korean, except for two Thais nationals, with many returning from Bangkok after Christmas holidays.
Romania and Bulgaria celebrate full Schengen membership with ceremonies
The bereaved families visited the site on Wednesday for the first time since the crash for an emotional memorial service. They were bused to the site where they took turns laying white flowers. Many knelt and bowed deeply before a memorial table laid with food, including “ddeokguk,” a Korean rice cake soup eaten on New Year's Day.
The Transport Ministry said authorities have completed the complicated process of identifying all 179 victims. It said the government has so far handed over 11 bodies to relatives.
The country is observing seven days of national mourning following the deadliest disaster in South Korea’s aviation history in decades.
The government has begun safety inspections of all 101 Boeing 737-800s operated by the country's domestic airlines. On Tuesday, a team of U.S. investigators, including representatives from Boeing, examined the crash site.
10 killed, 30 injured as car drives into crowd in New Orleans
Officials have said they will consider whether the airport’s localizer — a set of antennas housed in a concrete fence at the end of the runway designed to guide aircraft during landings — should have been constructed with lighter materials that would break more easily upon impact.
1 month ago
SKorea to inspect Boeing as it struggles to find cause of plane crash
South Korea will conduct safety inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country’s airlines following a deadly crash on Sunday that killed 179 people.
The crash, which is South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades, has raised national concerns as the government struggles to address the situation amid a leadership vacuum.
New acting President Choi Sang-mok led a task force meeting on Monday, instructing authorities to review the country’s aircraft operations systems.
“The essence of a responsible response would be renovating the aviation safety systems on the whole to prevent recurrences of similar incidents and building a safer Republic of South Korea,” Choi, also the finance minister, said.
The Boeing 737-800, operated by Jeju Air, had aborted its first landing attempt for unclear reasons. During its second attempt, it received a bird strike warning before the pilot issued a distress signal.
The plane landed without its front landing gear deployed, overshot the runway, hit a concrete fence, and burst into flames.
Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines, stated the Boeing 737-800 is a “proven airplane,” unlike the Boeing 737 Max, which was linked to fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
South Korea's Transport Ministry announced it would inspect all 101 Boeing 737-800s in the country, focusing on Jeju Air, which operates 39 of these planes. Representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing are set to join the investigation.
Officials are also reviewing the design of Muan airport's localizer, a concrete fence with antennas meant to guide planes during landings.
The Transport Ministry confirmed similar structures exist at other airports in South Korea, as well as in the US, Spain, and South Africa.
Warrant to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon sought
Video footage of the crash indicated a possible hydraulic failure, with the pilots failing to deploy flaps or slats to slow the plane. Retired pilot John Cox said the aircraft was still under control, and the close proximity of the barrier likely worsened the damage.
Another Jeju Air 737-800 experienced a landing gear issue earlier on Monday but returned to Seoul as a precaution. Authorities are also investigating potential communication problems between the pilot and air traffic controllers during the crash.
The crash, which is South Korea’s deadliest since 1997, has prompted a seven-day national mourning period. The Transport Ministry has identified 146 bodies and continues to collect DNA and fingerprint samples from the remaining 33 victims.
1 month ago