THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Officially Expelled From Office

 

Former President Yoon Suk Yul of South Korea has officially been removed from office.

On April 4 at 11 a.m. KST, the Korean Constitutional Court announced its unanimous ruling on the impeachment of the now-former president Yoon Suk Yeol.

The ruling was made 122 days following the martial law announcement made on December 3 by the former president and 111 days following the impeachment motion made on December 14. Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law was deemed unconstitutional as he did not follow the formal process and the reasons for declaration were not justified.

An election to appoint a new president will now be held within 60 days.

Source: soompi

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea’s Constitutional Court will rule Friday on Yoon’s impeachment

 

South Korea’s Constitutional Court will rule Friday on whether to formally dismiss or reinstate impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol — a decision that either way will likely deepen domestic divisions.

The court has been deliberating his political fate after conservative Yoon was impeached by the liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly in December over his brief imposition of martial law that has triggered a massive political crisis.

Millions of people have rallied around the country to support or denounce Yoon. Police said they’ll mobilize all available personnel to preserve order and respond to possible acts of vandalism, arson and assault before and after the court’s ruling.

The Constitutional Court said in a brief statement Tuesday that it would issue its ruling at 11 a.m. Friday and that it will be broadcast live.

Removing Yoon from office requires support from at least six of the court’s eight justices. If the court rules against Yoon, South Korea must hold an election within two months for a new president. If the court overturns his impeachment, Yoon would immediately return to his presidential duties.

Jo Seung-lae, a spokesperson for the main liberal opposition Democratic Party which led Yoon’s impeachment, called for the court to “demonstrate its firm resolve” to uphold the constitutional order by dismissing Yoon. Kwon Youngse, leader of Yoon’s People Power Party, urged the court’s justices to “consider the national interest” and produce a decision that is “strictly neutral and fair.”

Many observers earlier predicted the court’s verdict would come in mid-March based on the timing of its ruling in past presidential impeachments. The court hasn’t explained why it takes longer time for Yoon’s case, sparking rampant speculation on his political fate.

At the heart of the matter is Yoon’s decision to send hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly after imposing martial law on Dec. 3. Yoon has insisted that he aimed to maintain order, but some military and military officials testified Yoon ordered them to drag out lawmakers to frustrate a floor vote on his decree and detain his political opponents.

Yoon argues that he didn’t intend to maintain martial law for long, and he only wanted to highlight what he called the “wickedness” of the Democratic Party, which obstructed his agenda, impeached senior officials and slashed his budget bill. During his martial law announcement, he called the assembly “a den of criminals” and “anti-state forces.”

By law, a president has the right to declare martial law in wartime or other emergency situations, but the Democratic Party and its supporters say South Korea wasn’t in such a situation.

The impeachment motion accused Yoon of suppressing National Assembly activities, attempting to detain politicians and others and undermining peace in violation of the constitution and other laws. Yoon has said he had no intention of disrupting National Assembly operations and detaining anyone.

Martial law lasted only six hours because lawmakers managed to enter the assembly and vote to strike down his decree unanimously. No violence erupted, but live TV footage showing armed soldiers arriving at the assembly invoked painful memories of past military-backed dictatorships. It was the first time for South Korea to be placed under martial law since 1980.

Earlier public surveys showed a majority of South Koreans supported Yoon’s impeachment. But after his impeachment, pro-Yoon rallies have grown sharply, with many conservatives fed up with what they call the Democratic Party’s excessive offensive on the already embattled Yoon administration.

In addition to the Constitutional Court’s ruling on his impeachment, Yoon was arrested and indicted in January on criminal rebellion charges.Yoon was released from prison March 8, after a Seoul district court cancelled his arrest and allowed him to stand his criminal trial without being detained.

Ten top military and police officials have also been arrested and indicted over their roles in the martial law enactment.

Source: AP NEWS

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea battles worst ever wildfires as death toll hits 26

 

Wildfires raging in South Korea doubled in size on Thursday from a day earlier, as authorities called the blazes the country's worst natural fire disaster with at least 26 people killed and historic temples incinerated.

More than 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres) have been charred or were still burning in the largest of the fires that began in the central Uiseong county, making it the biggest single forest fire in South Korea's history. The previous record was 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres) in a March 2000 fire.

"We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires," Acting President Han Duck-soo told a government response meeting.

The military has released stocks of aviation fuel to help keep firefighting helicopters flying to douse flames across mountainous regions in the southeast of the country where fires have been burning now for nearly a week.

More than 120 helicopters have been deployed in three regions battling the blazes, the safety ministry said. South Korea relies on helicopters to fight forest fires because of its mountainous terrain. A helicopter pilot died on Wednesday after crashing while trying to tackle a blaze.

The wildfires that originated in Uiseong have been moving rapidly eastward, spreading almost to the coast, carried by gusty winds and with dry conditions aggravating the situation.

The Uiseong fire began spreading quickly on Wednesday, reaching the coastal county of Yeongdeok 51 km (32 miles) away in just 12 hours, said Won Myung-soo, director of satellite imagery analysis for the national forestry service.

While the meteorological agency has forecast some rain for the southwest, precipitation is expected to be under five millimetres for most of the affected areas.

"The amount of rain is going to be small so it doesn't look like it'll be big help in trying to extinguish the fire," Korea Forest Service Minister Lim Sang-seop told a briefing.

Experts have said the Uiseong fire showed extremely unusual spread in terms of its scale and speed, and that climate change is expected to make wildfires more frequent and deadly globally.

Higher temperatures amplified by human-caused climate change contributed to the existing seasonally dry conditions, "turning dry landscapes into dangerous fire fuel" in the region, the Climate Central group, an independent body made up of scientists and researchers, said in a report.

The wildfires have carved a trail of devastation through an area equivalent to about half the area of Singapore, ravaging everything in their path including historic temples and homes in the mountainous forest regions of North Gyeongsang province.

Teams of firefighters are on standby to protect the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy in the city of Andong, if a blaze jumps the stream that flows around them.

The picturesque folk village has traditional Korean houses, many with thatched roofs, while the Confucian academy dates back more than 450 years.

The fires have already badly damaged other historic sites, including much of Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, which was built in 681.

"The buildings and remains of what Buddhist monks have left over 1,300 years are now all gone," said Deungwoon, the head of the Gounsa Temple.

Source: Reuters

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: A Korean TV station was hit with disciplinary action after an anchor was drunk on a live news broadcast

JIBS Jeju Broadcasting has been hit with disciplinary action after one of its anchors was drunk on a live news broadcast.

On March 4, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) held a plenary meeting at the Korean Broadcasting Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. All members voted to issue a 'warning' for the '8 PM JIBS News.'

The anchor, Cho Chang Beom, was found to have violated broadcasting regulations during a live broadcast. Specifically, he broke the regulations on maintaining dignity (article 27) and broadcasting accidents (article 55-2).

On March 30 of last year, Cho Chang Beom was embroiled in allegations of broadcasting while being severely intoxicated during the '8 PM JIBS News.' During the broadcast, his slurred speech and a 7-second period of silence caused a broadcast accident.

JIBS explained, "The anchor had consumed alcohol during the day and took cold medicine. He became aware of his condition during the evening broadcast. The staff immediately stopped the news and aired an apology."

An internal disciplinary committee was also held, and the station imposed sanctions. Cho Chang Beom received a three-month suspension and was excluded from news production for a year. Additionally, a warning was issued to the news director.

However, the KCSC pointed out that "the follow-up measures were not timely." They added, "Drunk broadcasting is absolutely unacceptable for any station. Legal sanctions are inevitable."

The KCSC's decision consists of a total of seven measures, with the "warning" counting as a legal sanction. This will serve as a point deduction during the station's re-licensing review and other assessments.

Source: allkpop 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Korean government agencies ban Chinese AI app 'DeepSeek'

 

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy of South Korea has temporarily blocked the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool. This marks the first government-imposed restriction on DeepSeek. Following the ministry's decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense also implemented similar measures. The ban was imposed over concerns that DeepSeek collects excessive training data, potentially creating security vulnerabilities and increasing the risk of information leakage.

According to government and information technology (IT) industry sources on February 5, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy prohibited the use of DeepSeek within its internal networks. State-owned enterprises, such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Korea Plant Service & Engineering (KEPCO KPS), which handle nuclear power plant operations and power transmission facility maintenance, respectively, have also banned the use of DeepSeek. This marks the first case of restricting DeepSeek in the South Korea public sector.

The bans by the ministry, KHNP, and KEPCO KPS appear to be due to security concerns. DeepSeek has been criticized for its potential to leak data and its weak personal information protection measures. Ha Jung Woo, head of Naver Future AI Center, stated, "It is already well known there is a high risk of personal information leakage," adding, "All user data from DeepSeek-operated chatbots and apps are stored in Chinese databases." A ministry official explained, "The Personal Information Protection Commission has raised concerns at the government level about DeepSeek’s data collection and processing practices, which remain unresolved. As a precaution, DeepSeek has been blocked from use in our internal network." A KEPCO KPS representative added, "Nuclear power plants are classified as top-level national security facilities, so we need to be cautious about the possibility of key information being collected by AI systems hosted on Chinese servers." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed, "We have taken necessary measures, including blocking access to DeepSeek."

Beyond South Korea, other countries are also moving to ban DeepSeek. On the previous day, the Australian government prohibited the use of DeepSeek on government systems and devices. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated, "DeepSeek poses unacceptable risks, and this immediate ban is for the protection of national security and national interests." Italy’s data protection authority, Garante, issued a ban on DeepSeek on January 29, citing its lack of transparency in handling personal data. Taiwan has also prohibited its government agencies from using DeepSeek, while Japan, the UK, and the Netherlands are considering various regulations regarding its use.

As governments worldwide restrict DeepSeek, private companies are reacting sensitively and reinforcing their security measures. In South Korea, Kakao, LG Uplus, and Line Yahoo (a joint venture between Naver and SoftBank Group) have instructed their affiliates to prohibit the use of DeepSeek for business purposes.

Kakao has partnered with OpenAI (company behind ChatGPT) and plans to integrate its technology into Kakaotalk. In addition, the company has prohibited all employees from using DeepSeek’s AI services.Analysts suggest that this move aims to prevent potential data leaks and strengthen its alliance with OpenAI, DeepSeek’s rising competitor. Kakao recently notified its employees that "the use of DeepSeek for internal business purposes is strictly prohibited."

This decision appears to be a response to concerns that DeepSeek collects not only users’ names and birthdates but also keyboard usage patterns and audio data for AI training.

At the same time, Kakao’s strategic partnership with OpenAI seems to have influenced this decision. As the first South Korean company to form an alliance with OpenAI, Kakao is working on joint product development. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who visited South Korea on February 4, attended the 'Kakao AI Media Day' event and stated, "I have a long-term appreciation for Kakao and share their AI vision."

An industry insider noted, "With DeepSeek emerging as a strong competitor in the AI market dominated by OpenAI, Kakao appears to be aligning itself with OpenAI." Given that Kakao is integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its new AI service, "Kanana," the company likely considered data protection risks in making this decision.

Line Yahoo has also recently informed its headquarters and major affiliates, including Line Plus, IPX, and Line Games, that DeepSeek is prohibited for business use. A company representative stated, "This decision was made as a precautionary measure against security risks."

On the same day, LG Uplus issued an internal security notice prohibiting the use of DeepSeek. The company has banned employees from accessing DeepSeek through its internal network for business purposes and has advised staff to refrain from using it on personal computers until its security stability is verified.

Meanwhile, China appears to be countering this trend with aggressive policies and government-backed initiatives. The Chinese government has allowed domestic companies to utilize the personal data of its 1.4 billion citizens for AI training, while also providing research and development (R&D) funding and tax incentives. As a result, Chinese AI firms like Alibaba, Tencent, and DeepSeek are joining forces to strengthen their technological capabilities in a bid to challenge the U.S. in the AI sector.

Source: allkpop 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Pseudo-religious cult Agadongsan loses damages lawsuit against Netflix documentary 'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal'

 

Earlier this week on January 23 KST, the South Korean Supreme Court ruled that the Netflix documentary, 'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal', was not responsible for damages incurred by the pseudo-religious cult Agadongsan and its leader, Kim Ki Soon.

'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal' (directed by Jo Sung Hyun), released on Netflix in March of 2023, followed the controversies surrounding Agadongsan and its leader Kim Ki Soon in episodes 5 and 6. The documentary raised accusations that Kim Ki Soon and Agadongsan forced believers into hard labor, and that anyone who refused was beaten, with some missing believers suspected of being beaten to death. 

Following the documentary's release, Agadongsan sued the documentary, claiming that the series was spreading false rumors and misinformation. During the initial and the appeal trials, the district court ruled in favor of the documentary series, concluding, "The footage aired through the documentary does not explicitly claim that Kim Ki Soon murdered the victims or ordered for their murder. In episode 6, the documentary also states that the police found Kim not guilty of murder. Therefore, it is difficult to say that this footage spread misinformation or that it counts as a disrespectful and humiliating personal attack against Kim."

Now, as of January 23 KST, the South Korean Supreme Court has decided to maintain the rulings by the initial and appeal trials, dismissing Agadongsan's lawsuit. 

Source: allkpop

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: President Yoon Seok Yeol's arrest warrant hearing concluded after 4 hours and 50 minutes

 

President Yoon Seok Yeol’s pre-arrest interrogation (warrant hearing) lasted for 4 hours and 50 minutes and concluded on January 18.

The hearing as conducted by Chief Judge Cha Eun Kyung of the Seoul Western District Court from 2:00 PM to 6:50 PM. Yoon, who faces charges of treason and obstruction of official duties, participated in the hearing alongside his legal team.

According to Yoon’s attorney, Seok Dong Hyun, the President personally spoke for approximately 40 minutes between 4:35 PM and 5:15 PM. Yoon also made a final statement before the session ended, which lasted for 5 minutes.

During the hearing, prosecutors from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) and Yoon's defense team each spoke for 70 minutes. After Yoon’s 40-minute speech, the hearing took a 20-minute break starting at 5:20 PM. The session resumed at 5:40 PM and ended at 6:50 PM.

Earlier in the day, Yoon, dressed in a suit, left the Seoul Correctional Facility in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, aboard a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle at 1:25 PM and arrived at the Seoul Western District Court at 1:55 PM. Yoon did not stop at the photo line set up at the court entrance and entered the courtroom through the underground parking lot.

Initially, Yoon had been opposed to attending the hearing in person, but after meeting with his legal team in the morning, he reversed his position.

Yoon’s legal team stated, “The President deeply regrets the arrests of ministers, generals, and police chiefs who were entrusted with maintaining order or carrying out martial law duties under his command. He decided to attend the hearing to personally explain the legitimacy of the martial law and to restore his honor, believing that neither martial law nor charges of treason are valid according to the law and the Constitution.”

Source: allkpop

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody

 

President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in a large-scale law enforcement operation at the presidential residence Wednesday, on charges of masterminding an insurrection and committing abuse of power, becoming the first sitting president in South Korean history to be taken into custody.

The second attempt of the joint probe team that lasted nearly seven hours: from 4:10 a.m., when the team of some 1,100 investigators and police began to arrive at the presidential residence compound, to 11 a.m. when the president was taken to the headquarters of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, 16 kilometers south of the compound in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, central Seoul.

The CIO, the agency leading the joint probe, said it had begun investigating Yoon as of 11 a.m. over his martial law declaration on Dec. 3. The warrant allows the agency to hold him up to 48 hours and could hold him for longer -- up to eight more days -- if it requests an additional formal arrest warrant from the court, citing the risk of flight.

While investigating him, the CIO must transfer the case to the prosecution for indictment. Only the prosecution holds the authority to indict a president, whereas the CIO has the authority to investigate one for abuse of power. The prosecution could also hold him for 10 additional days, before it decides whether to indict him or not.

Yoon was taken into custody 43 days after he abruptly declared martial law on Dec. 3, throwing the nation into an unprecedented political crisis.

He was identified as the mastermind behind the alleged insurrection by imposing martial law, and is accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to prevent the lifting of the martial law by deploying armed troops to blockade the National Assembly. Minister Kim and other generals involved in the plot have been arrested and indicted. In a briefing Wednesday afternoon, the CIO said that Yoon was exercising his right to remain silent, but was unsure of the reason behind his silence.

”The questioning was held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. He refused to be recorded on video and continued to remain silent. A lunchbox was provided, but we did not confirm whether he ate it or not,” a CIO official who declined to be named told the reporters.

The official added that the CIO did not empty the entire floor or building for Yoon's questioning.

“Some PSS personnel were stationed on the third floor, where the video-recording interrogation room for questioning is located, for the president’s security,” he said.

The CIO also confirmed that the president will be held at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.

When asked about the possibility of detaining the president in a different facility, the CIO official said that the Seoul Detention Center is the facility specified in the court-issued warrant.

Hours after Yoon's detention, Yoon expressed his wish to resist and fight against what he called the "parliamentary dictatorship" in a lengthy handwritten letter to people posted on his Facebook account.

"As the president who is entitled to defend the Constitution, resisting and fighting is something we must do to normalize the country's operations and defend free democracy," Yoon wrote in the letter.

Yoon also defended his martial law declaration, reiterating his stance that the short-lived armed force deployment cannot constitute an insurrection.

"Martial law declaration is not a crime. Martial law is something that a president can exercise to overcome national crises," read Yoon's letter.

This followed his prerecorded speech released by his legal representatives immediately after he was taken into custody.

There, Yoon said he was complying with an "illegal and invalid" investigation to prevent "bloodshed" between the police and presidential security, and for the safety of the people rallying outside the presidential residence.

"The rule of law has completely collapsed in this country," he said. "Although I am facing these disadvantages, I sincerely hope that no citizen will ever have to endure such injustices when dealing with criminal cases in the future."

South Korea's elected leader was detained by the joint probe team that deployed over a thousand investigators and police personnel to enter the heavily guarded presidential residential compound. Veteran personnel of the police’s Mobile Detective Unit, Narcotics Investigation Unit and Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit were reportedly dispatched for the warrant execution, separated into two teams to detain Yoon and handle the confrontation with his presidential bodyguards, respectively.

Beginning the operation at 4:10 a.m., the team passed through three sets of barricades on their way to Yoon's residence from its main gate, which were set up by Yoon's security guards to deter the investigators' access to the presidential residence.

It was widely expected that investigators would execute the court-issued, extended warrant on Wednesday, 12 days after their aborted first attempt. They withdrew from the residence on Jan. 3, citing safety concerns after facing approximately 200 armed PSS and military personnel.

Unlike the first attempt, Wednesday's operation went smoothly with the majority of the presidential security officers defying orders from leadership, according to news reports. The presidential bodyguards did not prevent the police officers from climbing over a barricade of multiple buses, unlike in the first attempt. No physical conflict occurred on Wednesday, according to the CIO.

For over a week, the joint team has been pressuring the Presidential Security Service, summoning its head, Park Jong-joon, who resigned last week, and others on allegations of obstructing authorities' efforts to execute the warrant. The extended warrant to detain Yoon over his short-lived martial law declaration is reportedly set to expire on Jan. 21.

Police announced Wednesday that deputy chief of the PSS Kim Sung-hoon and the head of the Bodyguard Division Lee Kwang-woo would be arrested for obstructing the probe team's warrant execution on Jan. 3, once they appear at the police for questioning later on. Both had warrants for their detention issued against them Tuesday night.

After Yoon was detained, ruling People Power Party interim leader Rep. Kwon Young-se said it was the president who decided to appear before the CIO, but that the party would hold the agency legally responsible for executing an "illegal warrant."

Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae, meanwhile, said Yoon's detention is "the first step toward the restoration of constitutional order, democracy and the realization of the rule of law."

"I am truly relieved to confirm that the public power and justice of South Korea are still alive," he said.

After Yoon was detained, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said in statement that the US remains committed to working with the government in Seoul and appreciates all its and its citizens' efforts "to act in accordance with the Constitution."

Yoshimasa Hayashi, a top Japanese government spokesperson, told a daily news briefing that Tokyo was following developments in South Korea "with particular and serious interest."

Yoon is the first South Korean sitting president to be detained and investigated by law enforcement authorities. Former President Park Geun-hye were indicted after her impeachment was upheld at the Constitutional Court, while her predecessor, Lee Myung-bak, went through the questioning and was indicted after he stepped down from the post.

Park had been summoned by the prosecution and the special counsel respectively in late 2016 and 2017, but she rejected all summonses. Eleven days after the Constitutional Court ruling that upheld her impeachment, she, as a civilian, appeared before the prosecution and was arrested shortly after. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Supreme Court in 2021.

Former President Lee appeared before the prosecution five years after his presidency ended, on charges of bribery. He was arrested at home nine days after he was questioned by the prosecution. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2020. Both presidents were later pardoned after serving jail time for some years.

Source: The Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Attempt to arrest S Korea president Yoon suspended after dramatic standoff

 

South Korean investigators have called off an attempt to arrest suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol after a dramatic six-hour standoff with the security team outside his home.

"We've determined that the arrest is practically impossible," said the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which has been investigating Yoon's short-lived martial law declaration.

"Next steps will be decided after review," the CIO said, adding that Yoon's "refusal of the legal process" is "deeply regrettable".

Yoon's supporters, who have been camped out in front of the presidential residence for days, cheered in song and dance as the suspension was announced. "We won!" they chanted.

The CIO said that concern for the safety of the team on the ground was another factor in their decision to call off the attempted arrest.

Investigators have until 6 January to arrest Yoon before the current warrant expires. They can, however, apply for a new warrant and try to detain him again.

Since early morning, dozens of police vans lined the street outside Yoon's residence in central Seoul.

At about 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT), an arrest team made up of police officers and CIO members marched towards the compound.

This started out with a 20-strong team, but quickly multiplied to some 150 people.

While about half of the arrest team was able to get inside, they were locked for hours in a standoff with security officers - who are still responsible for protecting Yoon, despite him being stripped of his powers - and a military unit responsible for protecting the city of Seoul.

At one point the security team engaged in a "confrontation with the CIO at the presidential residence", an official with Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP.

Before the attempt was stood down, Yoon's security team told the news agency they had been "in negotiation" with the investigators who sought to access the president.

Yoon's legal team was also seen entering the residence slightly past noon local time.

His lawyer Yoon Gab-keun had earlier said they would take legal action over the arrest warrant, which they called "illegal and invalid".

A Seoul court issued the arrest warrant early this week, after Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning over the past fortnight.

On Friday, prosecutors also indicted on insurrection charges army chief Park An-su, who was named martial law commander during the brief declaration last month, and special forces commander Kwak Jong-geun, according to Seoul-based news outlet Yonhap.

They are to face trial while in prison.

Source: BBC News

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea police raid Jeju Air, airport over fatal crash

 

South Korean police on Thursday raided the offices of Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport as part of the probe into the fatal crash of a Boeing 737-800 plane that killed 179 people.

The flight was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea on Sunday when it issued a mayday call and belly-landed before slamming into a barrier, killing everyone aboard except two flight attendants pulled from the burning wreckage.

Authorities carried out search and seizure operations at the Muan airport where flight 2216 crashed, a regional aviation office in the southwestern city, and Jeju Air's office in the capital Seoul.

South Korean and US investigators, including from Boeing, have been combing the crash site since the disaster to establish a cause, with both black boxes found and decoding work ongoing.

"In relation to the plane accident... a search and seizure operation is being conducted from 9 am (0000 GMT) on January 2 at three locations," police said in a statement sent to AFP.

"The police plan to swiftly and rigorously determine the cause and responsibility for this accident in accordance with the law and principles."

Police told AFP the search warrant was issued, and Yonhap reported it was approved on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, citing officials.

South Korea has also announced it will inspect all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by its carriers, focusing on the landing gear, which appears to have malfunctioned during the Sunday crash.

South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, said Thursday that "immediate action" must be taken if that probe uncovered any issues with the aircraft model.

Authorities have previously said 101 aircraft of the same model were in operation by six different airlines.

"As there's great public concern about the same aircraft model involved in the accident, the transport ministry and relevant agencies must conduct a thorough inspection of operation maintenance, education, and training," Choi said Thursday.

"If any issues are found during the inspection, please take immediate corrective action," he added.

The accident is the worst-ever aviation disaster on South Korean soil.

South Korean authorities have completed the initial extraction of data for the cockpit voice recorder, but the flight data recorder was damaged and was to be sent to the United States for analysis, officials said Wednesday.

Officials initially pointed to a bird strike as a possible cause of the disaster, and have since said the probe was also examining a concrete barrier at the end of the runway.

Dramatic video showed the plane colliding with it before bursting into flames.

The land ministry said in a statement that the country's airports were also being inspected "to evaluate the installation locations" around their runways.

As the investigation continued, families travelled to the crash site for the first time to pay their respects on Wednesday and some returned the following day with cardboard boxes to collect their loved ones's belongings.

On Thursday at the airport, a monk led prayers close to the crash site, while inside the airport, the stairs were covered in colourful post-it notes left by mourners.

"Honey, I miss you way too much," one of them said.

"Even if you faced lonely and painful moments in death, may you now soar like a butterfly," another read.

Relatives also left flowers and food near the site including tteokguk —- rice cake soup traditionally enjoyed in South Korea on New Year's Day —- as they said their goodbyes, many in tears.

Local media reported on a handwritten note, seemingly written by the pilot's brother, that was placed alongside gimbap -- a popular Korean dish -- and a drink cup near the crash site.

"I feel heartbroken when I think about the struggles you faced alone (in your last moments)," it read.

"You were truly amazing and did so well, so I hope you can now find happiness in a warm place. Thank you, and I'm sorry."

On Wednesday -- a public holiday in the South -- hundreds of people queued up to pay their respects at an airport memorial altar set up to honour the victims.

So many people came to the memorial that the queue stretched for hundreds of metres and the local cell phone network was overloaded, local media reported.

Other altars for the victims have been set up nationwide.

Source: Agence-France-Presse

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Seoul to Inspect All Boeing 737-800 Aircraft in Country following Jeju Air Crash

 

The government said Monday it plans to conduct a safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines following a Jeju Air Co. plane crash that claimed 179 lives the previous day.

In Sunday’s Jeju Air crash in the southwestern county of Muan, it is believed that all three landing gears had failed to operate properly. The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing B737-800.

A transport ministry official said the government plans to thoroughly examine whether various regulations of the Boeing model are being properly followed by airlines, which would check their aircraft utilization rates, flight inspections and maintenance records.

The Boeing 737-800 is widely operated by domestic low-cost carriers. Jeju Air operates the largest number of this model, with 39 aircraft in its fleet. Other operators include T’way Air with 27 aircraft, Jin Air with 19 and Eastar Jet with 10.

The ministry, in particular, plans to conduct rigorous safety inspections of Jeju Air following repeated landing gear issues.

Earlier in the day, a separate Jeju Air flight of the same aircraft model made a return after taking off from Gimpo International Airport due to a landing gear issue that was found similarly in Sunday’s crash. It was of the same Boeing B737-800 model involved in the accident.

“We plan to implement rigorous aviation safety inspections in response to the (landing gear) incidents,” Joo Jong-wan, aviation policy chief at the transport ministry, said during a briefing at the Sejong government complex.

Joo noted that Jeju Air was known for its high aircraft utilization rate, which some observers have pointed to as a possible factor in Sunday’s crash.

Following the landing gear issue reported on Monday, the ministry dispatched safety inspectors to the company to investigate the latest case.

Meanwhile, one of the two flight recording devices recovered from the crash site has been found with external damage, according to Joo. It has been transported to Gimpo International Airport for further analysis.

The ministry official also said the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will participate in the investigation into the crash. Boeing and engine manufacturer CFM International have also been approached for cooperation.

Source: Yonhap/Korea Bizwire

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: 179 feared dead in worst aviation disaster in South Korea

 

A tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning has claimed at least 124 lives as of 3:30 p.m., with authorities warning the death toll could rise to 179 in what is South Korea's worst domestic aviation disaster to date.

The Jeju Air flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers and crew, was attempting to land when it veered off the runway. Two minutes after the pilot called mayday, the plane collided with the perimeter fence and burst into flames, according to the Transport Ministry.

According to the Jeonnam Fire Services Headquarters Wednesday, most of those onboard were likely deceased, leaving two survivors, which are reported to be crew members, one male and one female. The passengers on the crashed plane included 173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals, according to authorities.

No additional survivors had been found among the passengers, and the condition of the wreckage suggested that hopes for more survivors were slim, fire authorities said in a briefing to families of those on board.

The aircraft's fuselage was completely destroyed in the crash, making the identification of victims extremely difficult. Rescue teams were continuing their efforts to locate the remains of missing passengers, while temporary mortuaries had been set up to house the bodies recovered.

Many of the remains were severely damaged, complicating the process of identification, authorities added.

President of Jeju Air Co Ltd. Kim E-bae expressed his sympathy and apologized to the passengers who lost their lives and their bereaved families in the aftermath of the tragic crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport, pledging full cooperation with the government to uncover the cause of the accident.

Taking responsibility as the airline’s top executive, Kim added, “Regardless of the cause, I deeply feel my responsibility as CEO. Jeju Air will do everything in its power to expedite recovery efforts and provide full support to the families of the victims.”

Kim stated that the cause of the crash remains unclear and emphasized that the airline is awaiting official investigation results from government authorities. “At this point, it is difficult to determine the cause of the accident, and we must wait for the official findings from the relevant government agencies,” he said.

A Jeju Air representative also noted that the crashed aircraft, a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, had no prior history of accidents. The airline was working to identify the precise cause of the crash and clarify the circumstances surrounding it, the representative said.

Meanwhile, Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance designated Muan as a special disaster zone.

Choi emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting the extensive loss of life and the urgent need for a coordinated response. “The government has activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and will deploy all necessary resources. We will officially declare Muan as a special disaster zone to ensure effective relief and recovery efforts,” he stated.

The designation of a special disaster zone, as outlined under the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management, allows for enhanced administrative, financial and medical support in affected regions. This includes emergency relief, disaster recovery plans, and financial aid for victims and their families.

Under this designation, joint investigation teams comprising disaster management agencies will conduct assessments and draft a recovery plan tailored to the severity of the disaster. These measures aim to expedite both immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation for affected individuals and communities.

Authorities remained focused on recovery operations and the identification of victims as investigations into the cause of the tragedy continue. Some 720 officials, including personnel from the airport, fire fighters, police, military and coast guards were deployed to the scene.

The aircraft departed from Bangkok at 1:30 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Muan at 8:30 a.m. During its first landing attempt on runway No. 1, the plane failed to land and performed a go-around, a flight maneuver where a pilot chooses to abort a landing and return to the air to fly round and try again.

On its second attempt, the landing gear malfunctioned, leading to an emergency belly landing near the runway's end, according to authorities. A belly landing, also known as a gear-up landing, is an emergency landing where an aircraft lands on its underside, or belly, without its landing gear fully extended.

Unable to decelerate fully, the plane struck airport perimeter fences at speed, resulting in its destruction and instant fire, according to the authorities.

Emergency personnel, including 80 firefighters, were immediately deployed to the site. The fire was first controlled within 43 minutes, and rescue efforts began from the rear of the aircraft. Two survivors were rescued, but authorities feared that more dead would be discovered as they continued to search the wreckage.

Initial investigations pointed to a "bird strike" as the likely cause of the landing gear malfunction. This occurs when an aircraft collides with a flock of birds or when birds enter the engine.

Source: The Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo

 

South Korea has voted to impeach its acting president Han Duck-soo, two weeks after parliament voted to impeach its President Yoon Suk Yeol.

A total of 192 lawmakers voted for his impeachment, more than the 151 votes needed for it to succeed.

Prime minister Han took over the role after President Yoon was impeached by parliament following his failed attempt to impose martial law on 3 December.

Han was supposed to lead the country out of its political turmoil, but opposition MPs argued that he was refusing demands to complete Yoon's impeachment process.

Chaos erupted in parliament as the vote was held on Friday.

Lawmakers from Yoon and Han's ruling People Power Party (PPP) protested after National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes would be needed to pass the impeachment bill.

This meant that, unlike the 200 votes required for Yoon's impeachment, no votes from ruling lawmakers would be needed this time for Han to be impeached in parliament.

Ruling party MPs gathered in the middle of the voting chamber chanting, "invalid!" and "abuse of power!" in response, and called for the Speaker to step down. Most of them boycotted the vote.

Han will be suspended from his duties as soon as he is officially notified by parliament.

The opposition first filed an impeachment motion against Han on Thursday after he blocked the appointment of three judges that parliament had chosen to oversee Yoon's case.

Korea's Constitutional Court is typically made up of a nine-member bench. At least six judges must uphold Yoon's impeachment in order for the decision to be upheld.

There are currently only six judges on the bench, meaning a single rejection would save Yoon from being removed.

The opposition had hoped the three additional nominees would help improve the odds of Yoon getting impeached.

This is the first time an acting president has been impeached since South Korea became a democracy.

Finance minister Choi Sang-mok is set to replace Han as acting president.

Like Yoon, Han's impeachment will need to be confirmed by the constitutional court, which has 180 days to rule on whether the impeachment should be upheld.

"I respect the decision of the National Assembly," Han said Friday, adding that he "will wait for the Constitutional Court's decision."

He also said that he would suspend his duties to "not add to the chaos".

On 3 December, Yoon took the country by surprise as he declared that he was imposing martial law, citing the need to protect the country from "anti-state" forces.

Hours later he reversed the order after 190 MPs voted it down, with many of them climbing fences and breaking barricades to get into the voting chamber.

Yoon later apologised but said he had sought to protect the country's democracy.

Since then, Yoon and his allies have been dogged by the political and legal repercussions of the short-lived martial law order.

Top officials from Yoon's government have been arrested and indicted on allegations of insurrection, while Yoon is facing an impeachment trial. However, the suspended president, who is banned from leaving the country, has been defying summons from investigating authorities.

On Friday, the Korean won plunged to its lowest level against the dollar since the global financial crisis 16 years ago - with both parties blaming each other for the chaos.

Han's removal will likely intensify the political gridlock and uncertainty the country is currently grappling with.

Source: BBC News

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Yoon Suk Yeol says he will never succumb to impeachment

 

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Saturday that he would never succumb to the threat of impeachment, after the National Assembly voted 204-85 in favor of a motion that could eventually dethrone the incumbent president.

"I will never surrender," he said in his fifth address to the nation in the past two weeks since his imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.

"I will cherish any reprimand, encouragement and support you show to me, and I will do my best for the country until the end," he added, in a speech delivered in his official residence in Hannam-dong of Yongsan-gu, central Seoul.

Recounting past achievements such as the handling of economic problems he said stemmed from misdeeds of his liberal predecessors, a U-turn from the nuclear phaseout that led to the Czech Republic's selection of a South Korean consortium as a preferred bidder in a nuclear power plant project and a revival of trilateral ties between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, Yoon said, "I pause my journey here for a while, but our journey with the people over the past 2 1/2 years toward the future must not stop.

Yoon also asked public officials to gather strength in difficult times and show support for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who serves as acting president for the time being.

Yoon's duty as the president was suspended at 7:24 p.m. under the National Assembly Act, hours after the parliament voted in favor of the impeachment motion. This came as a secretary in the presidential office received an original copy of the impeachment resolution delivered by representatives of the legislative body led by former three-term lawmaker and the National Assembly secretary-general Kim Min-ki.

As Yoon faces an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court, Yoon's legal representatives will begin working to defend the 63-year-old conservative president from accusations of insurrection through his martial law imposition on Dec. 3. Presidential security will remain in place at his official residence during his trial, which is to not last for more than six months.

Yoon's spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

Saturday's speech follows a prior one on Thursday, in which he sought to justify his attempt to wield military power to take control of the opposition-controlled National Assembly and election authorities. Yoon then claimed his martial law declaration was a high-caliber political decision by the president and it had been made within the constitutional framework.

Hundreds of wreaths with plastic flowers, presumably from Yoon's avid supporters, lined the wall outside the presidential office in Yongsan on Saturday. Ribbons on the wreaths read, "You are the patriot who saved the country," "We must protect President Yoon Suk Yeol," "Cheer up President Yoon Suk Yeol," "Justice will prevail" and "Death sentence to election fraudsters," among others.

Source: Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: TV cancellations and changes for Saturday due to schedueld National Assembly Vote

 

With the National Assembly scheduled to vote on a second motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, many TV shows have announced cancellations and changes to their broadcast schedules.

MBC’s “Music Core” will not air on Saturday for the second week in a row. Instead, the music show will air on Sunday, December 15 at 2:05 p.m. KST. MBC’s variety show “How Do You Play?” has also cancelled its December 14 broadcast.

JTBC’s variety show “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”) and drama “The Tale of Lady Ok” will not air new episodes on December 14. “The Tale of Lady Ok” will return on December 15 at 10:30 p.m. KST, when it will air Episode 4.

Channel A’s drama “Marry YOU” will also take the night off on December 14, with Episodes 9 and 10 now scheduled to air consecutively on December 15 at 7:50 p.m. KST.

KBS 2TV will not air Episode 2 of its variety show “Moving Voices in Germany” as previously scheduled. Instead, it will air “Moving Voices Special – From Majorca to München” during the show’s usual time slot on December 14.

Source: soompi

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S Korea's President Yoon vows to 'fight to the end'

 

Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has defended his shock decision to declare martial law last week, saying he did it to protect the country's democracy.

In a surprise televised address on Thursday, he said the attempt was a legal decision to "prevent the collapse" of democracy and counter the opposition's "parliamentary dictatorship".

Yoon has suggested that he would not step down ahead of a second vote to impeach him in parliament on Saturday.

"I will stand firm whether I'm impeached or investigated," he said. "I will fight to the end".

The president and his allies are facing investigations on insurrection charges, and he and several of them have been banned from leaving South Korea.

On Thursday, the opposition-led parliament voted to impeach police chief Cho Ji-ho and justice minister Park Sung-jae. The two officials have been immediately suspended.

Unlike impeachment motions against presidents, which require 200 votes in the 300-strong National Assembly to be passed, other officials can be impeached with 150 votes.

In his address, his first since his apology over the weekend, Yoon denied that his martial law order was an act of insurrection, claiming that his political rivals were creating "false incitement" to bring him down.

Yoon repeated many of the same arguments that he used on the night he declared martial law: that the opposition was dangerous, and that by seizing control, he had been trying to protect the public and defend democracy.

However, Yoon added that he would not avoid his "legal and political responsibilities".

Last Saturday, an attempt by opposition lawmakers to impeach the president failed after members of his own ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. But opposition members are set to hold another impeachment vote this weekend and have vowed to hold one every Saturday until Yoon is removed from office.

The floor leader of the PPP, Choo Kyung-ho, stepped down after the failed impeachment attempt, and on Thursday the party elected Kwon Seong-dong, a Yoon loyalist, as his replacement.

Kwon told reporters on Thursday that he would hold discussions with PPP lawmakers on whether they should continue opposing Yoon's impeachment.

Yoon's party had been hoping to convince the president to leave office early, rather than force him out.

Minutes before Yoon spoke, his party leader Han Dong-hoon appeared on television saying it had become clear that the president was not going to step aside. Han then urged members of the party to vote to remove him from office this Saturday.

The opposition tabled another impeachment motion on Thursday, setting the stage for a vote at 17:00 local time (09:00 GMT) Saturday.

If South Korea's parliament passes the impeachment bill, a trial would be held by the Constitutional Court. Two-thirds of that court would have to sustain the majority for Yoon to be removed from office permanently.

Yoon has been a lame duck president since the opposition won the April general election by a landslide - his government has not been able to pass the laws it wanted and has been reduced to vetoing bills proposed by the opposition.

Yoon also accused North Korea sympathisers of trying to undermine his government when he declared martial law on the night of 3 December.

The announcement plunged the country into political turmoil. Protesters faced off against security forces in front of the National Assembly building while lawmakers scrambled to vote down Yoon's order.

Yoon withdrew his martial law order hours after it was blocked by lawmakers.

Since then, the country has remained on edge. There have been huge protests and strikes calling for Yoon's impeachment, and the presidential office was raided on Wednesday as Yoon faces multiple investigations on charges of insurrection and treason.

Meanwhile, ex-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned and took responsibility for announcing martial law, attempted suicide while in detention on Tuesday, officials said. He is in a stable condition.

Source: BBC News

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Joint investigation team on Yoon launched

 

A joint investigative body was formed on Wednesday to investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law, amid concerns over overlapping investigations into the high-profile case that deals with allegations of insurrection of a sitting president.

The Korean National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation said it would work together with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the Defense Ministry "to leverage the strengths of each institution and eliminate confusion and inefficiencies." The joint team excludes the prosecution which has been competing with the police and the CIO to take the lead in the insurrection investigation.

The police previously declined the prosecutors' request for a joint investigation last week.

The announcement comes hours after the police arrested Korea National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Head Kim Bong-sik without a warrant on charges of insurrection early Wednesday, detaining the top two police officials simultaneously for the first time. Both officials were placed under a travel ban as of Tuesday.

The police officials were placed under emergency arrest at 3:50 a.m. following lengthy interrogations lasting up to 11 hours for Cho and 10 hours for Kim.

Both Cho and Kim are accused of directing police officials to block access to the National Assembly when martial law was declared on Dec. 3 to prevent lawmakers from entering the parliament to repeal the martial law decree. Cho is also suspected of sending police personnel to the National Election Commission to assist the military in carrying out orders issued under martial law.

A police official told Yonhap News Agency that the emergency arrests were made considering that insurrection charges are “serious offenses which are punishable by death” and because there were “concerns regarding the possibility of evidence tampering.”

Through additional investigations, police officials plan to decide whether to request arrest warrants for Cho and Kim. Both chiefs will be released if such warrants are not filed or granted within 48 hours.

With both leading police officials absent for the time being, Lee Ho-young, the Deputy Commissioner of the KNPA, will serve as the acting commissioner, while Choi Hyun-seok, the Chief of the SMPA’s Life Safety Division, will take over as the acting head.

Source: Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Motion to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol scrapped

 

The motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his declaration of martial law earlier this week was scrapped Saturday, after his ruling party defended the embattled leader by refusing to vote.

Even if Yoon has officially avoided impeachment, political turmoil is projected to continue, with the main opposition pledging to repeatedly submit impeachment motions until Yoon is suspended.

The motion was defeated in Saturday's plenary session, after failing to secure the required two-thirds majority, support from 200 out of the 300 members, in the National Assembly.

Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik apologized to the people on "behalf of the parliament" as he announced the Assembly's failure to pass the motion.

Most ruling People Power Party lawmakers left the chamber shortly after voting against a bill to launch a special counsel investigation into first lady Kim Keon Hee. People Power Party Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who previously said he would vote in favor of the motion if Yoon refused to step down, remained in the chamber to cast his vote. Reps. Kim Yea-ji and Kim Sang-wook left the chamber at first but returned to participate in the vote.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers could not hide their disappointment as ruling party lawmakers walked out of the chamber to protest the vote.

The ruling party, which holds 108 seats in the Assembly, maintained an official stance of voting against the impeachment motion, despite few of its members having expressed willingness to vote in favor, both openly and indirectly, in recent days.

This marked the third time the National Assembly submitted a motion to impeach the president.

The previous two were passed by the Assembly in March 2004 and Dec. 9, 2016 against late President Roh Moo-hyun and former President Park Geun-hye, respectively. The Constitutional Court ultimately rejected the motion against Roh, while confirming Park's impeachment.

The main opposition, around noon, revealed plans to “repeatedly” draft and submit impeachment motions against Yoon if the proposal fails to pass the Assembly on Saturday.

“We will repeatedly float (the impeachment motion until it is passed in the Assembly),” main opposition leader and Democratic Party Rep. Lee Jae-myung said in a press briefing.

The next motion would be submitted and put to vote on Dec. 11, during an extraordinary plenary meeting, according to Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae. The opposition coalition has accused Yoon of committing treason when he had troops break into the Assembly under martial law.

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets around 3 p.m. to either call for the ouster of Yoon or for the Assembly to vote against the impeachment motion.

While Yoon has dodged impeachment for the time being, the ruling bloc is expected to try to come up with a solution to stabilize the political situation, which observers said could include measures to loosen the current president's grip on state affairs.

Yoon, in a brief televised address aired Saturday morning, said that he would “leave it up to” his party to “take steps to stabilize the political situation,” including the issue of his term in office. He also apologized to the public for causing concerns due to his surprise martial law decree.

Around noon, the ruling party leader held an 80-minute meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who would serve as the country’s leader in an acting capacity if the president resigned.

The two sides have decided to closely communicate and oversee the economic issues concerning the people’s livelihoods, according to the ruling party chief.

People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon told reporters in the morning that “it is inevitable for the president” to step down from his position earlier than expected after Yoon’s apology to the public was televised. He cited the president’s inability to carry out his duties as president behind his claim.

But he did not provide details on how Yoon should step down such as impeachment or constitutional amendment that would cap the presidential term to four years instead of the current single five-year term. The proposed amendment would allow a president to be elected for a total of eight years, or two four-year terms. This would end Yoon's term early, in May 2026, and he would technically not have the option of reelection.

Several in the conservative ruling bloc in recent days have floated ideas of bolstering the constitutional power of the prime minister. The “pro-Han Dong-hoon” faction ruling party lawmakers pushed for a constitutional amendment to change the limit of the presidential term as a key resolution as another solution.

On top of the main opposition's plan to continue floating impeachment motions, Yoon is expected to be subjected to multiple investigations from law enforcement agencies.

Two law enforcement agencies announced they would form separate investigation teams looking into Yoon’s martial law decree as of Friday, with observers saying the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials could carry out its own investigation.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office announced Friday that it had formed a special investigative unit for the “cases tied to martial law decree.” The team will be led by Park Se-hyun, chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors Office, and will be jointly conducted with military prosecutors, the top prosecution office explained.

Police said earlier in the week they established a designated investigation team of some 120 personnel to look into four complaints accusing Yoon and others of treason, mutiny and abuse of power in connection with his martial law decree.

The revote on a bill that mandates special counsel investigation into multiple scandals surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee, including her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation case that unfolded more than a decade ago, was held before the vote on the impeachment motion. The bill was scrapped in the revote, with 102 voting against and 198 voting in favor. In a revote, a bill requires at least two-thirds of the Assembly to vote in favor to pass.

The bill, which marks the third of its kind targeting the first lady, was passed by the opposition-led Assembly on Nov. 14, in a simple majority, and was vetoed by Yoon on Nov. 26.

Yoon’s popularity, which has been steadily falling since he first took office in May 2022, fell to a record low of 13 percent, according to the survey conducted by Gallup on 1,001 adults aged over 18 from Tuesday to Thursday. It was down by 6 percentage points on-week.

Source: Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Dramas and Variety Shows announce broadcast schedule changes and cancellations amid political turmoil

 

Amid escalating political unrest in South Korea, major changes to TV programming have been announced, affecting both variety shows and dramas.

MBC announced that several of its popular variety programs, including “Music Core,” “Home Alone” (“I Live Alone”), “How Do You Play?,” and “The Manager” will not air to accommodate extended coverage of “News Desk” and special news reports.

Similarly, JTBC has confirmed the cancellation of its flagship variety show “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”) for this week.

Dramas are also seeing significant schedule changes. MBC’s drama “When the Phone Rings” will not air its 5th and 6th episodes this week—originally set to air on December 6 and 7—due to special news broadcasts. Episode 5 will instead air next week on December 13.

SBS stated, “Episode 9 of ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ will air as planned tonight (December 6), but Episode 10, scheduled for December 7, will be postponed due to special news coverage.” SBS’s music show “Inkigayo” will also not air on December 8.

JTBC’s “The Tale of Lady Ok” will not air its 3rd episode on December 7, but will instead air the episode on December 8 at 10:30 p.m. KST.

Channel A’s weekend drama “Marry YOU” will skip its December 7 airing and instead air a back-to-back broadcast of Episodes 7 and 8 on December 8 at 7:50 p.m. KST.

The changes in these TV schedules follow a series of dramatic political events in South Korea. On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an emergency address. However, just two hours later, the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding the revocation of martial law, prompting President Yoon Suk Yeol to issue a statement at 4:30 a.m. KST announcing its termination.

Despite the lifting of martial law, the political aftermath continues to unfold, with opposition parties intensifying efforts to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. A vote on the impeachment motion is scheduled for December 7.

Source: soompi

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Opposition parties submit motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol

 

South Korea's six opposition parties on Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the martial law declaration the previous day.

The six parties - the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and minor oppositions Rebuilding Korea Party, Reform Party, Jinbo Party, Basic Income Party and Social Democratic Party - plan to put the motion to the plenary session on Thursday, and to put it to the vote on Friday or Saturday.

The main opposition had hinted at such a move hours after opposition parties hinted at proceeding with an immediate impeachment of President Yoon shortly after he agreed to the parliament's request to lift martial law.

A group of over 40 lawmakers from opposition parties declared that the Assembly should impeach Yoon, calling him "the mastermind of a treasonous act of state mismanagement."

Hwang Un-ha, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, said, "The president committed an act tantamount to treason by mobilizing the military. It is clear that he cannot remain in office even for a moment longer. Therefore, we must urgently pass an impeachment motion."

Hwang urged each party to propose the impeachment motion on Wednesday. Such a motion must be voted on within 24 to 72 hours after its proposal.

"The National Assembly should focus on approving the impeachment as quickly as possible to immediately suspend the president's duties," he said.

Earlier, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung criticized the martial law declaration as unconstitutional and illegal. Speaking to reporters shortly after a National Assembly resolution demanding the lifting of martial law was voted, he said, "President Yoon’s proclamation of martial law utterly failed to meet the substantive requirements stipulated by the Constitution and the Martial Law Act."

"President Yoon has betrayed the people. His illegal declaration of martial law is null and void. From this moment, Yoon Suk Yeol is no longer the president of the Republic of Korea."

Source: The Korea Herald