Latest news with #YoonSuk-yeol
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
South Korea's former president Yoon defies summons in martial law probe, Asia News
SEOUL — Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol skipped questioning on Tuesday (July 1) by a special prosecutor investigating his December declaration of martial law, citing the need to prepare for a later hearing despite the risk of arrest. Yoon was ousted in April by the Constitutional Court, which upheld his impeachment by parliament for a martial law bid that shocked a country that had prided itself on becoming a thriving democracy after overcoming military dictatorship in the 1980s. Through his lawyers, Yoon, a powerful former top prosecutor elected president in 2022, has accused the special counsel of going on a politically-motivated "witch hunt," describing as illegal some of the tactics used against him. On Monday, Yoon's lawyers said July 5 was the earliest he would be able to appear, citing a trial court hearing on insurrection charges set for Thursday that he must attend and his rights as a defendant to rest and prepare. A spokesperson for the special prosecutor's team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Media reported the team has said it will issue another summons for this week. Yoon has been locked in an unprecedented wrangle with authorities over the investigation by the special counsel appointed in June, which ratcheted up prior efforts by state prosecutors and police to investigate his martial law attempt. During Yoon's first appearance on Saturday, questioning was interrupted for several hours after he objected to procedures he said violated his rights. The special prosecutor has said the team would consider action under the criminal code, which analysts and media say probably means an arrest, though the team did not confirm that. Analysts and some members of Yoon's conservative People Power Party have questioned his intentions, since he was a lead prosecutor in the 2017 graft investigation and prosecution of former President Park Geun-hye. Two other special prosecutors were appointed in June to sift accusations of wrongdoing by Yoon's wife and obstruction by the presidential office of an investigation into the death of a marine in 2023. [[nid:719602]]
Saba Yemen
4 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
S Korean ex-president before court over martial law
Seoul - Saba: Lawyers for former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced that their client will appear before the Special Prosecutor's Office on Saturday, despite their protest against the public nature of the case. The session, considering that the invitation to question him in front of the media violates his rights and aims to humiliate him. The lawyers stated in an official statement that "the investigation is politically motivated and filled with lies and distortions," stressing that Yoon "will refute the accusations and tell the truth." Last December, the issue of Yoon's attempted declaration of martial law erupted, a move that shook public opinion in South Korea, which prides itself on its transformation into a "democratic state after decades of military rule." Following mounting public outrage, the Constitutional Court issued a decision to remove the president from office last April, upholding the impeachment previously approved by parliament. The special prosecutor attempted to obtain an arrest warrant for Yoon after he ignored repeated summonses, but the court rejected the request this week after he expressed a willingness to cooperate. Yoon was arrested last January after resisting a court order to detain him. He was later released after 52 days on legal grounds. The former president is on trial for planning to declare martial law on December 3. A special team of more than 200 prosecutors and investigators has been handling the case since the special prosecutor was appointed in June 2025. The Yoon Suk-yeol case highlights the fragility of democratic institutions in the face of political crises, amid growing questions about the independence of the judiciary and justice in South Korea. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
AsiaOne
7 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
South Korea court rejects arrest warrant for ex-president Yoon, Asia News
SEOUL — A South Korean court rejected on Wednesday (June 25) a request to issue an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk-yeol related to an investigation into his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, his lawyers said. South Korea's special prosecutor had asked the court on Tuesday to issue an arrest warrant for Yoon as an investigation intensified over the ousted leader's botched bid to declare martial law. A spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court and the prosecution office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A senior member of the special prosecutor's team of investigators said on Tuesday that the arrest warrant was on a charge of obstruction and accused Yoon of refusing to respond to summons for questioning. Lawyers representing Yoon criticised the special prosecutor for what they said were attempts to summon the former president "based on superficial and secondary matters that invited suspicion the probe was politically driven". Nonetheless, his legal team said Yoon would comply with another summons and appear for questioning on Saturday. The special prosecutor had said it would consider seeking another arrest warrant if Yoon failed to turn up for questioning on Saturday, the Yonhap News Agency reported. Yoon, who is already facing a criminal trial on insurrection charges for issuing the martial law declaration, was arrested in January after resisting authorities trying to take him into custody, but was released after 52 days on technical grounds. The former president is fighting the charges against him that include masterminding insurrection, which is punishable by death or life in prison. He maintains that he declared martial law on Dec 3 to sound the alarm over the threat to democracy posed by the then-opposition Democratic Party. The special prosecutor was appointed just days after liberal President Lee Jae-myung took office on June 4 following his victory in a snap election called after Yoon's ouster in April. The prosecutor has launched a team of more than 200 prosecutors and investigators to take over ongoing investigations into Yoon. Separately, the Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant on Wednesday for Yoon's former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, to extend his detention, citing concerns over potential destruction of evidence. Kim played a leading role in recommending and planning martial law, and is in jail amid an ongoing trial on insurrection charges. He has denied wrongdoing and said imposing martial law was intended to raise alarm over the opposition's dominance and gather information related to election fraud concerns. [[nid:719460]]
RTHK
12-06-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
All quiet on the Korean front amid reciprocal moves
All quiet on the Korean front amid reciprocal moves South Korean soldiers go about the process of putting up a loudspeaker at the border last June when the Yoon Suk-yeol administration was in place. File photo: Reuters North Korea appears to have stopped broadcasting strange and unsettling noises along the border, Seoul's military said on Thursday, a day after South Korea stopped blaring its own loudspeaker propaganda northwards. The North has been broadcasting a horror movie-esque soundtrack into border areas since last year, as part of an escalating propaganda war between the arch foes. But South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung, who took office last week after his predecessor was impeached over an abortive martial law declaration, ordered the military to stop blasting K-pop and news reports into the North in an attempt to "restore trust". "Today, there was no region where North Korea's noise broadcasts to the South were heard," Seoul's military said on Thursday. "The military is closely monitoring related trends in North Korea." Relations between the two Koreas have been at one of their lowest points in years, with Seoul taking a hard line towards Pyongyang, which has drawn ever closer to Moscow in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But South Korea's new president has vowed to improve relations with the North and reduce tensions on the peninsula, halting the loudspeaker broadcasts Seoul had begun last year in response to a barrage of trash-filled balloons flown southwards by Pyongyang. The North claimed the balloons – which contained toilet paper and other garbage – were retaliation for similar missives floated northwards by activists in the South, carrying anti-Kim Jong-un propaganda. North Korea resumed its own propaganda broadcasts soon after, sending strange and eerie noises – such as chilling music and what sounds like bombs exploding – into the South, prompting complaints from border residents. On Ganghwa island, which is close to the North, the strange noises were last heard on Wednesday at around 6pm, its county councillor Park Heung-yeol said. "And from 8pm to 9pm yesterday, the North broadcast its propaganda music, instead of the strange noise," he added. "I slept so well last night. I had not been able to do that for so long," another Ganghwa resident An Mi-hee said. South Korea's Lee has promised a more dovish approach towards Pyongyang, compared with his predecessor Yoon Suk-yeol. (AFP)
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Korea faces a reckoning: Political dysfunction, moral drift and the path to unification
June 4 (UPI) -- South Korea's transformation from colonial subjugation and a war-ravaged state into one of the world's leading economies and cultural exporters is a story of extraordinary resilience and ambition. Yet, beneath this remarkable trajectory lies an increasingly fragile foundation -- one marred by political dysfunction, institutional distrust, demographic collapse, and a waning sense of national purpose. The political turmoil of recent months, including former President Yoon Suk-yeol's controversial martial law declaration and the ongoing legal entanglements of President-elect Lee Jae-myung, should not be dismissed as partisan spectacles. They reveal deeper structural flaws that threaten South Korea's social fabric and future stability. Amid growing public disillusionment, the new administration must take bold, systemic steps to restore confidence in governance, reaffirm national identity and reignite the vision of peaceful Korean unification. I. Political Paralysis and Institutional Decay The December 2024 martial law declaration was a jarring reminder of the fragility of democratic norms. President Yoon's overreach resulted in his impeachment and further polarized an already fractured political landscape. Yet, his opponents in the Democratic Party have themselves fueled a cycle of retribution through repeated attempts to impeach officials and politicize legal proceedings. South Korea's political climate has become one in which elections are viewed not as opportunities for civic renewal, but as battles for institutional control. The line between opposition and prosecution is increasingly blurred. Voters perceive justice as selectively applied, and both major parties bear responsibility for undermining public trust. President-elect Lee inherits a nation divided, with his own credibility under scrutiny. The Supreme Court has upheld a ruling against him for violating election laws, while additional charges -- including bribery and breach of trust -- remain unresolved. His first task must be to restore confidence by ensuring legal transparency and avoiding the perception of using office as a shield from prosecution. II. The Judiciary in Disarray Beyond political reform, South Korea faces a crisis of judicial legitimacy. Once regarded as a stabilizing force, the courts are now viewed by many as politicized and inconsistent. High-profile rulings frequently seem contradictory, and prosecutorial discretion is often perceived as unaccountable and overly aggressive. The judiciary's credibility cannot be restored through rhetoric alone. Structural changes are essential. These include insulating judges from political pressure, establishing clear and consistent standards for legal decisions, and introducing mechanisms to protect citizens from prosecutorial overreach. Restoring rule of law is not merely a matter of governance -- it is a prerequisite for national unity and long-term stability. III. A Nation Facing Demographic Crisis South Korea also faces an unprecedented demographic collapse. In 2024, the country recorded the lowest fertility rate in the world -- just 0.72 births per woman. This statistic is more than a demographic concern; it is a civilizational alarm. A society that cannot sustain its population will struggle to maintain its economy, social systems and global standing. While economic burdens -- rising housing costs, long working hours, and education expenses -- are certainly contributors, the crisis runs deeper. There is a growing cultural and psychological alienation from marriage, parenthood and traditional family structures. Young adults increasingly view child-rearing as a burden rather than a joy, and many elders live in isolation. South Korea now faces the intergenerational consequences of decades of material progress without sufficient moral and social investment. Government incentives have done little to reverse this trend. What is needed is a broader cultural shift -- one that restores value to family life and reaffirms intergenerational responsibility. This includes rethinking education, media narratives and social policy to reinforce rather than undermine traditional bonds. Prosperity, both economic and societal, begins with the strength of families. IV. Economic Imbalance and Structural Vulnerabilities Economically, South Korea's headline figures remain impressive, but the structural underpinnings are weakening. The continued dominance of large conglomerates (chaebols) has stifled innovation and exacerbated inequality. Labor disputes, youth unemployment and real estate speculation all point to systemic inefficiencies. Privatizing the financial system, empowering small and medium enterprises and improving access to affordable housing are necessary to create a more equitable and sustainable economic environment. Equally important is reducing reliance on a narrow group of trade partners. South Korea must diversify beyond China and prepare for the implications of U.S. trade policy, particularly under a second Trump administration. President-elect Lee has spoken of a vision for South Korea as a "global pivotal state." To make that more than a slogan, he must pursue pragmatic trade policies and regulatory reforms that support broader economic participation. A resilient economy is one where citizens believe that effort and enterprise are rewarded fairly -- and that national progress is not confined to elites. V. Reclaiming the Mission of Unification Perhaps most neglected in recent discourse is the question of national unification. For decades, unification with North Korea has been treated as a distant aspiration. But it remains central to Korea's historical identity and geopolitical future. The continued division of the peninsula is not just a strategic anomaly; it is a civilizational wound. Efforts toward unification cannot proceed in a vacuum. South Korea's internal cohesion 00 its institutional integrity, civic morale, and cultural unity -- will shape the feasibility of any future reconciliation. A divided South cannot realistically unify a divided Korea. This is why unification must be approached not as a partisan platform, but as a national mission rooted in civic education, economic strategy and long-term diplomacy. Public awareness campaigns should highlight the potential cultural and economic benefits of unification, while civil society should be mobilized to support grassroots dialogue and cross-border cooperation. Internationally, this requires strengthening ties with key allies like the United States and rebuilding trust with Japan to coordinate regional security. Ultimately, unification efforts must be based on Korean Dream rooted in Korea's founding ideal of Hongik Ingan -- "to benefit all humanity." That vision requires not only civil and political will, but national character. To Korea's Next Leader: A Call to Courage To South Korea's new president: Your administration begins at a defining moment. The country does not need ideological fervor or managerial efficiency alone. It needs leadership grounded in truth, justice and vision. Judicial reform must come not as a tool for settling scores, but as an instrument of renewal. Family policy must move beyond subsidies to embrace cultural restoration. Economic policy must prioritize inclusivity and sustainability. Lead not by fear or faction, but by courage and conscience. Conduct your own legal affairs with transparency and openness. Speak plainly about the challenges the country faces. Mobilize citizens not just to believe in Korea's potential, but to take part in its restoration. Conclusion: Korea's Defining Choice South Korea stands at a crossroads. One path leads toward further polarization and decline. The other points toward renewal, reconciliation and long-term peace. That choice does not belong to one party or administration-it belongs to the Korean people. Educators, judges, business leaders, parents and youth all have a role to play in rebuilding what has been eroded. History will judge this generation not by the wealth it accumulated or the institutions it preserved, but by the vision it restored. The time for superficial fixes is over. The work of national rebuilding must begin.
