News

World Bank projects global economic growth rate of 2.7% in 2025

2025/01/17 10:00

The global economy is expected to grow by 2-point-7 percent in 2025 and again in 2026. That's according to the World Bank's World Economic Prospects report released on Thursday. It added that while the global economy stab, the economies of developing countries are expected to make a slow progress in catching up with the advanced economies. Among the advanced economies, the U.S. is expected to grow 2-point-3 percent this year, while Japan is forecast to grow just 1-point-2 percent. China is expected to see growth of 4-point-5 percent this year.

KHNP, KEPCO resolve IP dispute with Westinghouse, paving way for stronger nuclear energy cooperation

2025/01/17 10:00

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Korea Electric Power Corporation have resolved their intellectual property dispute with U.S.-based Westinghouse. The agreement, announced Friday, ends the legal dispute and paves the way for stronger cooperation in the global nuclear energy market. With KHNP the preferred bidder for a nuclear power project in the Czech Republic, the deal is expected to boost their chances of securing the project. KHNP said it aims to strengthen its position in the global market by forming a new strategic relationship with Westinghouse.

Seoul Central District Court dismisses Yoon's petition challenging legality of detention

2025/01/17 10:00

With a court rejecting a petition challenging President Yoon's detention, investigators can and will continue to try to question him, while also filing for a warrant on Friday to officially arrest him. Let's connect with our Kim Bo-kyoung at the investigators' office in Gwacheon City. So, Bo-kyoung, let's start with the court's dismissal of the petition. Good morning Dami. As you have already said, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed impeached President Yoon's request to challenge his detention, after hours of deliberation on Thursday. Yoon was taken into custody on Wednesday and detained by the CIO for questioning over his December 3rd martial law declaration, and has been refusing to speak or attend interrogations. Yoon's legal team tried to turn things around,.. by filing a petition to the Seoul Central District Court seeking a review of the legality of his detention. They argued the detention warrant against him, issued by the Seoul Western District Court was invalid, and that the CIO lacked jurisdiction over insurrection. The court convened a hearing at 5 PM to review Yoon's request, but as it rejected claims from Yoon's side, the president remains in custody as the investigation continues. Yoon's legal team expressed regret over the court's decision, saying it is unfortunate how illegal and unlawful actions are tolerated, while the rule of law is being undermined. Yoon's side added they will not comply with the CIO's investigations saying they cannot accept illegal procedures. Now, the next step for the investigators is seeking a formal arrest warrant for President Yoon. We should expect that to happen today, right? Yes, Dami. The CIO originally had to decide whether to seek a formal arrest warrant by 10:33 AM Friday, but the 48-hour deadline for holding the president was extended to around 9 PM as the court review was in progress. Since around 2 PM on Thursday, when investigators submitted documents, including evidence, to the court the detention period remained on hold, until the court returned the documents to the CIO investigators early this morning at 12:35 AM. Now with the court's decision, the CIO is expected to seek a formal arrest warrant late Friday night to keep him in detention for a longer period. If the formal warrant is issued, Yoon can be held for a total of 20 days, including the initial 48-hour detention period. The CIO will likely hold and question Yoon for eight more days, before transferring the case to the prosecution, which has the authority to indict a suspect. Both parties have already agreed to spend ten days each questioning Yoon. And I'm sure pro-Yoon protesters remain distressed and upset? After the court rejected Yoon's request, supporters gathered in front of the Seoul Central District Court and expressed their anger at the decision. They then reportedly moved to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang City, to show their support for Yoon. The police unofficially estimated that around three hundred people were gathered in front of the court last night. A conservative group rally with an estimated three thousand participants is scheduled to take place in front of Seoul Detention Center at 1 PM today. That is all I have for now, but I will bring you more updates in a later newscast. Back to you, Dami. Thank you Bo-kyoung for the coverage. That was our Kim Bo-kyoung reporting live from the investigators' office.

[Weather] Frigid morning turns much milder this afternoon

2025/01/17 10:00

Frigid air continues in central regions, Gangwon-do Province is seeing lows below minus 10 to even minus 15 degrees Celsius. Icy roads out there for central regions and Jeollabuk-do Province. Please drive and walk with care. However, afternoon highs will rise rapidly to way above norms. Temperatures will go up further over the weekend. Next Monday marks Daehan, the last winter seasonal term so we should be having the coldest time of the year but temperatures have been rather generous and should stay above norms through next week and likely into the Seollal holiday. Checking on today's highs now, Seoul gets up to 5 degrees, Daegu at 8 degrees under sunny skies. Air quality will be normal in most parts except in Sejong during the morning. A dry weather advisory remains in place for the East Coast. Hikers should take extra caution against wildfires. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

U.S. film director David Lynch dies at the age of 78

2025/01/17 10:00

American filmmaker David Lynch has died at the age of 78. The director died due to complications from emphysema, a chronic lung condition, according to his family. His celebrated creations include Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Mulholland Drive, all of which received best director Oscar nominations, and the TV series Twin Peaks. Lynch's career began with the 1977 classic Eraserhead, and he received an Honorary Academy Award in 2019 for his contributions to cinema. While Lynch fought health challenges in recent years, he kept working on creative endeavors until his passing.

Two people die in Slovakia high school stabbing attack, student detained

2025/01/17 10:00

Over in Slovakia, an 18-year-old high school student has been detained after allegedly stabbing two people to death. The stabbings happened on Thursday, local time in the small town of Spisska Stara Ves in the north of the country near the Polish border. A deputy principal and a student were killed. The suspect fled the scene but was immediately detained by the police. While stabbings are rare in Slovakia, similar incidents occurred in 2020 and 2022, where the suspects were also young students. The Slovakian ministers of interior and education visited the town and committed to implementing measures to prevent future attacks and improve safety for students and teachers.

Iraq to sign deal with Halliburton to develop Nahr Bin Omar oilfield

2025/01/17 10:00

Moving to the Middle East, Iraq is finalizing a deal with U.S. oil firm Halliburton to develop the Nahr Bin Omar oilfield It aims to boost the oilfield's production from approximately 50-thousand barrels per day to 300-thousand barrels per day. The deal also includes plans to produce gas from the same field. It's part of Iraq's broader strategy to increase its oil and gas production. Iraq also plans to increase its output from the West Qurna 1 field, operated by PetroChina, to 750-thousand barrels per day by the end of the year. It is also working with the China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation, on a 1.7 billion U.S. dollar gas project.

UK pledges 100-year partnership with Ukraine

2025/01/17 10:00

Let's begin today with the meeting between the Ukrainian president and the British prime minister. A historic partnership agreement was signed between the two states. That's right. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv on January 16th to sign a 100-year partnership agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The agreement aims to strengthen security ties, defense cooperation and economic collaboration, including supporting Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. During the visit, Starmer said the UK's "commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and security is steadfast and enduring." This visit is part of a broader initiative by European leaders, to reaffirm their support for Ukraine ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. Leaders from Germany and France have also recently visited Kyiv to show their solidarity with Ukraine.

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill more than 80 after announcement of ceasefire

2025/01/17 10:00

Despite an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire which is set to begin on Sunday, Israel conducted another airstrike on Thursday, killing a total of 86 Palestinians. Lee Seung-jae has more. Many rejoiced at the news of a six-week ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. But just days before the deal is implemented on Sunday, Israel conducted more airstrikes in Gaza, killing at least three more Gazans, and raising the death toll to 86 since the news of the ceasefire agreement. According to Gaza's Civil Defense Service, the death toll includes 23 children and 27 women. During the same period, more than 250 Palestinians have also been injured in airstrikes across Gaza. Israel's Cabinet was set to vote on the ceasefire deal on Thursday, but the vote did not take place with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blaming a last-minute disagreement with Hamas for the delay. The prime minister's office said the militant group is reneging on parts of the agreement in order to gain further concessions. It accused Hamas of "backing out of the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis that prevents a settlement." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the deal will start on time despite what he called a last-minute "loose end." "On the ceasefire, yes, I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation would begin, as we said, on Sunday. Look, it's not exactly surprising that in a process, in a negotiation, that has been this challenging and this fraught, you may get a loose end. We are tying up that loose end as we speak." Following the ceasefire agreement, the European Union on Thursday pledged 120 million euros,.. or over 123 million U.S. dollars in aid for Palestine. According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a post on X, the "ceasefire and hostage release agreement offers hope the region desperately needed," but added that Gaza's "humanitarian situation remains grim." The aid will provide assistance to address acute food insecurity and malnutrition, healthcare assistance, water, sanitation, and hygiene support,. shelter and protection assistance. The latest humanitarian assistance to Gaza from the bloc brings the total to over 460 million US dollars since 2023. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

On-point: Why Trump may prefer smaller-scale deals with Kim Jong-un

2025/01/17 10:00

According to South Korea's intel agency, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump might pursue smaller-scale agreements with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Why not big deals, something that Trump pursued and chased 6, 7 years ago? We're joined by Dr. Bruce Bennett. Welcome back. 1. Let's start with what these small-scale agreements could be. What could be included in these small deals? 2. Then why smaller-scale agreements? Why not big deals? 3. What would be the best idea for Trump to make Kim Jong-un come to the negotiating table? What kind of deals do you think have the highest chance of satisfying both Trump and Kim? 4. What should South Korea do so that it doesn't get left out of Washington-Pyongyang talks? Especially when things are rocky because of the political instability here in South Korea. 5. North Korea fired a hypersonic missile two weeks ahead of the launch of the Trump administration and another short-range ballistic missile one week ahead of the big day in the U.S. Should we expect another missile launch on inauguration day? What makes you think so? Are these provocations strategically planned moves by the North? Thanks so much for your time and your insight as always, Dr. Bennett.

President Yoon's impeachment trial debates begin as court rejects request for rescheduling amid arrest

2025/01/17 10:00

And the second impeachment hearing for President Yoon was carried out as scheduled on Thursday without him, where his legal representatives and the National Assembly's legal team exchanged some heated words. Our Oh Soo-young reports. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial unfolded with intense political overtones, as the Constitutional Court proceeded without the leader at the second hearing on Thursday. "As a full-fledged debate began, lawyers representing Yoon and the National Assembly presented conflicting narratives about the legality and necessity of the martial law declared on December third." The National Assembly's panel presented five grounds for impeachment, declaring there was no basis or conditions that made it necessary for a martial law decree, which can only be triggered by the president in times of national crises such as war or those akin to war. The panel also said Yoon violated the procedure of declaring the decree, by not having properly attained and documented Cabinet approval. They also claimed Yoon tried to paralyze the functions of parliament by aiming to prevent a motion to lift martial law, as well as block political activities, gatherings, and press freedom. The Assembly's side further said Yoon tried to undermine the independence of the National Election Commission, and tried to detain judicial figures. "The respondent violated the Constitution, attempting to dismantle the Republic of Korea's constitutional and democratic system in one sweeping act." Meanwhile, Yoon's lawyers questioned the impeachment process, and emphasized the context in which the President felt forced to declare the fateful decree. The lawyers insisted that the President was initiating a peaceful martial law against the opposition-led parliament's series of attacks and impeachment motions against the incumbent government. "I'd like to ask how exactly you as the opposition-led Parliament have been protecting the political opposition which is the Administration, with your relentless attacks? You claim protecting the opposition is fundamental to liberal democracy and that hit me hard." Yoon's side also raised suspicions about election fraud, and claimed it was the President's duty to try to protect the Constitutional order, as the National Election Commission refused to accept investigations. They fundamentally argued that martial law should not be subject to judicial review, calling it an act of governance that can be exercised by the president. The team further reiterated their position that the National Assembly panel's move to remove debate over insurrection from the trial, undermines its legitimacy, as the Assembly cited insurrection as a major reason for impeachment in their resolution. The second hearing took place without the President, as the leader was arrested and taken in for questioning on Wednesday. Under the Constitutional Court Act, the judicial bench is able to hold trial hearings without the respondent, if they are absent for the second time. The Court denied Yoon's request to delay Thursday's session, saying that his 48-hour detainment didn't justify rescheduling. However, during the hearing, the bench decided to add three full days of trial hearings until February 13th. It originally set five afternoon sessions until February 4th, which Yoon's defense objected to. His legal team has argued that the trial is moving along too quickly, without sufficient discussion or notification of the proceedings. The team has also objected to the Court obtaining investigation records as evidence. To this the Court said it does not violate the law, and also announced that five senior officials under investigation including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former intelligence chief Hong Jang-won were selected as witnesses, with testimonies set for January 23rd and February 4th. The next trial hearing for the President's impeachment will be held Tuesday at 2 PM. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

President Yoon 'refuses to testify', claims investigation is illegal

2025/01/17 10:00

In the meantime, President Yoon stays put in the Seoul Detention Center after refusing to testify on Thursday. According to his legal team, he won't show up for Friday's questioning either. Our Kim Jung-sil reports. President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to refuse investigative procedures. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials notified Yoon to attend questioning at 10AM on Friday, but his legal team has indicated he will not comply. Since his arrest on Wednesday, Yoon has remained silent. During his initial 10-hour interrogation, he declined to answer questions, verify his testimony, or sign documents. On Thursday, he delayed a second round of questioning due to health concerns and ultimately skipped the rescheduled session. The President has consistently argued that the investigation by the CIO is illegal, but legal experts disagree. "It's true that CIO does not have specific jurisdiction over insurrection But what they do have is the jurisdiction to look at any related crime And here they are investigating Yoon's abuse of office. So it's entirely within their jurisdiction so there's absolutely no problem." Professor Cho added that despite Yoon's silence, the CIO would still be able to indict him. Yoon is currently being held in a pretrial detention cell, separate from other detainees. The facility provides basic amenities, including a bed, table, and private restroom. He is being given the same food as provided to other detainees, costing around 1,700 KRW or about U.S. $1.20 per serving to make. The Justice Ministry has assigned a special team to monitor Yoon's safety around the clock. Meanwhile, Yoon's legal team has filed complaints against top investigators, arguing his arrest was illegal and vowing to challenge the investigation. Officials are considering stronger measures, such as forcibly escorting Yoon to questioning or conducting an on-site interview. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

BOK holds key rate unchanged amid weak currency, Trump uncertainty

2025/01/16 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring you today's most pressing issues from across the globe, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The arrest of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol this week has raised concerns about its impact on the economy. Amid ongoing uncertainty, the Bank of Korea held its benchmark interest rate steady at 3 percent and downgraded its growth forecast for this year, now predicting growth to fall below 1.9 percent. As experts assess the situation, key questions remain about how recent decisions by the central bank will shape the 2025 economic outlook. And also, will government measures aimed at stabilizing prices and boosting consumption be enough to deliver the desired results? For answers to these questions, we're joined by Song Soo-young, Professor of Business and Economics at Chung-Ang University. Also joining us is Minjung Park, Professor of Business at Kumoh National Institute of Technology (PARK) 1. Let's start with Professor Park, until now, President Yoon's potential arrest has been a significant variable in resolving uncertainties in the financial market. With President Yoon's arrest on the 15th and the confrontation coming to an end, what impacts do you foresee on exchange rates, consumer sentiment, etc.? Do you think a positive trend will emerge? (SONG) 2. Recently, the national research institute, the KDI, diagnosed that "economic downside risks are increasing amidst political uncertainty." They analyzed that economic sentiment is worse now compared to the impeachment crisis of 2016. What do you think is the reason for this? (SONG) 3. In the first monetary policy direction meeting of the year on the 16th, the Monetary Policy Committee decided to freeze the base interest rate at 3%. What is the reason behind this decision? (PARK) 4. Meanwhile, The real estate slump that started in the second half of last year seems to be worsening at the start of this year. How do you think a freeze of the base interest rate in this monetary policy meeting will affect the real estate market? (SONG) 5. Since the second half of last year, the household loan interest rates at commercial banks have been steadily rising, but many expect them to decrease in the first quarter of this year. What will be the economic impacts, such as on the real estate market? Could household debt rise again? (PARK) 6. Now to the U.S., there are expectations that the Federal Reserve may freeze interest rates at the upcoming FOMC meeting at the end of this month. What is your view on this? What impact do you think it will have on domestic economic factors like exchange rates? (SONG) 7. With the decline in economic growth, there have been discussions about supplementary budgets, and the Bank of Korea has continuously mentioned the need for them. What are your thoughts on its necessity? (PARK) 8. In preparation for the Lunar New Year, the government has prepared the largest-ever holiday measures, including the release of 265,000 tons of key goods and a 90 billion won discount support plan. Will these measures have their desired effect and stabilize prices? (SONG) 9. The government has designated January 27th, the day before the Lunar New Year holiday, as a temporary public holiday. This was meant to promote domestic travel, but with the long holiday, demand for overseas travel is increasing. How effective do you think this measure will be in boosting domestic consumption, which was its original intent?

Yoon rejects day two of questioning, stands by his claim over investigation's legitimacy

2025/01/16 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, where a second day of questioning was expected to take place. For more, our correspondent Kim Do-yeon joins me live. Do-yeon , a second session of questions was scheduled to open today but that did not happen. Jung-min, that's right as you said, Yoon was set to be brought here to the CIO headquarters for more questioning on charges of insurrection due to his declaration of martial law last month but he refused. That means he is still at Seoul Detention Center at the moment. At first, this morning Yoon's legal team requested the questioning session to start at 2 PM due to health reasons but soon afterward they said Yoon has said everything already and that another questioning session would not be necessary. What seems to be a lack of cooperation from Yoon reflects his stance on the investigation from the beginning. He's called it illegal as he says the CIO does not have the investigative authority over insurrection charges. And as he left the presidential residence yesterday morning he said he only gave in to investigators and was detained to prevent any unfortunate clashes between the investigators and the Presidential Security Service. And I hear the president's defense team has formally called on a local court to look into the legality of the president's arrest? That's right, Jung-min earlier in the day Yoon has actually called for a review of the legality of this arrest and Seoul Central District Court is currently in the process of reviewing it. And that move by Yoon's team is in line with what we just talked about how Yoon claims the CIO does not have the authority to investigate. Representatives from both Yoon and the CIO showed up at the local court to make their cases. The court is obligated to make the decision on this within 24 hours and this is likely to come out tomorrow. This means if the court rules in favor of Yoon he will be released right away if not he will be kept under the current detention. The countdown of 48 hours for Yoon's current detention has been temporarily paused as per the rule for the legality review. The countdown resumes once the CIO's documents that have been sent to the courts for the review are returned. Do keep in mind, that the CIO is expected to request another warrant that allows them to detain President Yoon for up to 20 days and this will probably be done after the court has decided on the legality review of the ongoing arrest. Meanwhile, public rallies in support of and in opposition to the president have moved their base from the Hannam-dong residential area. What have you been hearing there Do-yeon ? Jung-min, I've been here since early in the morning, and protesters were out here even before me. There were dozens at first, but now I see a much bigger group as throughout the day more came to join the others. It seems like the main protest here is in support of Yoon. Also, some 30 ruling People Power Party lawmakers joined the protesters here earlier in the day. Now as you said the protests in front of the residence have largely moved and those in favor of Yoon's impeachment are gathering at other locations as well and one of the main ones is going on in front of the Constitutional Court where the impeachment trial is being held. That's all for now, back to you Jung-min. That was our Kim Do-yeon reporting live at the investigation office.

[Weather] Temperatures will start to rise from the afternoon

2025/01/16 20:00

Snow fell sporadically, mainly on western parts of the country today. With freezing temperatures overnight, snow on the roads could turn icy tomorrow morning. Please pay attention while driving. Cold wave advisories are still in place in Gangwon-do Province. The temperatures in Daegwallyeong in Gangwon-do Province plummeted to minus 13 degrees Celsius today. This freezing cold will continue in these areas tomorrow. Elsewhere, the temperatures will rise from the afternoon and there will be no worries about the severe cold until the end of this week. Tomorrow, Seoul, Daegu, and Gyeongju will start off at minus 5 degrees, Busan at zero degrees. Daily highs will move up to 5 degrees in Seoul. Daejeon will reach 6 degrees. Another round of rain or snow is forecast in the central and northern parts of the country on Monday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

S. Korea welcomes ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, hopes for swift implementation

2025/01/16 20:00

South Korea has welcomed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which comes following 15 months of war. This is according to the foreign ministry on Thursday. The ministry said it hopes the agreement can be implemented swiftly so that all hostages can be released and the humanitarian situation in Gaza improves. Seoul hopes discussions on diplomatic solutions for peace and stability in the region will start. The ministry added that South Korea will continue actively participating in the international community's efforts to restore and promote peace in the region as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Israel, Hamas agree to six-week ceasefire, hostage release deal

2025/01/16 20:00

On the international front. Starting this weekend, local time, a truce takes effect in Gaza to temporarily halt the fighting between Israel and Hamas for six weeks. The conflict that lasted for more than a year has left a deep scar, during which thousands were killed. Lee Seung-jae has more. Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal, that will put a halt to the conflict in Gaza for six weeks beginning on Sunday. Qatar's Prime Minister announced the ceasefire deal on Wednesday, adding his hope that the pause in fighting will lead to an eventual permanent ceasefire. "Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United States, are happy to announce the success of joint mediation efforts in order to reach a deal between the parties in conflict in the Gaza territory to exchange prisoners and hostages, and a return to a prolonged truce that achieves a permanent ceasefire between the two sides." As part of the ceasefire deal, the Palestinian militant group is expected to release 33 Israeli hostages initially. In exchange, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli hostage, and 50 Palestinian prisoners for every one of the five female Israeli soldiers being held in Gaza. Within the first 42 days of the deal, females and hostages under 19 years old will be released. They make up the 33 Israeli hostages mentioned in the agreement. Reports say some 1-thousand-650 Palestinian prisoners could be released as part of the deal. Pundits say the growing pressure to have Israeli hostages returned home forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the ceasefire deal, while others say the election of Donald Trump was behind it. However,.. both Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden were quick to take credit. Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, Biden said the deal was reached under "the precise contours" of a plan he set out in May last year. Biden added that the ceasefire deal was the result of "painstaking American diplomacy." On the other hand, Trump took to Truth Social to say that the ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of his "Historic Victory" in November. Biden says negotiations will continue beyond the latest temporary ceasefire to phase two of the deal, that could include a permanent halt to the conflict in Gaza. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Gov't says it will secure operation of "as many medical facilities as possible" during Seollal

2025/01/16 20:00

The days between January 20th and February 5th have been declared a period of emergency medical response as the government seeks to secure the operation of as many medical facilities and pharmacies as possible amid the longer lunar new year holiday and a concerning surge in the number of respiratory infections nationwide. Intentions to this end were shared following talks between health ministry officials and ruling party lawmakers at the National Assembly earlier on this Thursday. The number of suspected flu cases soared to its highest this month since related data collection began in 2016. Aggravating concerns is the reality that many hospitals are operating in the absence of trainee doctors following their mass resignation last year.

Ruling party decides to propose its own special investigation bill calling it the "lesser evil" option

2025/01/16 20:00

In response to the opposition's push to pass a special investigation bill into President Yoon's martial law declaration, the ruling People Power Party has decided to propose its own version. The main opposition Democratic Party will attempt to reach a deal tomorrow morning. Lee Eun-hee has the latest. The ruling People Power Party has decided to propose its own version of a bill for a special investigation into President Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law. Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong told reporters on Thursday that all 1-hundred-and-eight ruling party lawmakers have agreed to propose the bill, and that is only because the opposition party is pushing one with "unconstitutional" and "toxic" clauses. He said the party came to this conclusion despite objecting opinions because the members believed that although "not ideal," it is the "lesser evil." The PPP's decision comes as the main opposition Democratic Party and other opposition parties have been seeking to pass their second attempt at the bill. The primary focus of the DP's proposal is to uncover whether President Yoon unlawfully instigated an insurrection and violated the Constitution in the process. Following the veto of its initial bill by Acting President Choi Sang-mok two weeks ago, the DP's revised version includes allegations that Yoon committed "insurrection" and attempted to purposefully induce foreign aggression. PPP's version removes such allegations. Under the PPP's proposal, the Supreme Court's Chief Justice will recommend three special prosecutor candidates, with the president making the final appointment. The ruling party plans to officially propose the bill on Friday, and the floor leaders of both parties will begin negotiating the special investigation bill at 11 AM. The main opposition party aims to present the agreed bill up for a National Assembly vote at the 2 PM plenary session. DP Floor Leader Park Chan-dae emphasized that if an agreement is not reached by 2 PM, the session will be suspended to continue negotiations, with the deadline set for midnight Friday. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

President Yoon's impeachment trial debates begin as court rejects request for rescheduling amid arrest

2025/01/16 20:00

The second impeachment case hearing for President Yoon Suk Yeol took place as scheduled today, where the legal teams on each side exchanged heated words. Our Oh Soo-young has the details. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial unfolded with intense political overtones, as the Constitutional Court proceeded without the leader at the second hearing on Thursday. "As a full-fledged debate began, lawyers representing Yoon and the National Assembly presented conflicting narratives about the legality and necessity of the martial law declared on December third." The National Assembly's panel presented five grounds for impeachment, declaring there was no basis or conditions that made it necessary for a martial law decree, which can only be triggered by the president in times of national crises such as war or those akin to war. The panel also said Yoon violated the procedure of declaring the decree, by not having properly attained and documented Cabinet approval. They also claimed Yoon tried to paralyze the functions of parliament by aiming to prevent a motion to lift martial law, as well as block political activities, gatherings, and press freedom. The Assembly's side further said Yoon tried to undermine the independence of the National Election Commission, and tried to detain judicial figures. "The respondent violated the Constitution, attempting to dismantle the Republic of Korea's constitutional and democratic system in one sweeping act." Meanwhile, Yoon's lawyers questioned the impeachment process, and emphasized the context in which the President felt forced to declare the fateful decree. The lawyers insisted that the President was initiating a peaceful martial law against the opposition-led parliament's series of attacks and impeachment motions against the incumbent government. "I'd like to ask how exactly you as the opposition-led Parliament have been protecting the political administration which is the Administration, with your relentless attacks? You claim this is fundamental to liberal democracy and that hit me hard." Yoon's side also raised suspicions about election fraud, and claimed it was the President's duty to try to protect the Constitutional order, as the National Election Commission refused to accept investigations. They fundamentally argued that martial law should not be subject to judicial review, calling it an act of governance that can be exercised by the president. The team further reiterated their position that the National Assembly panel's move to remove debate over insurrection from the trial, undermines its legitimacy, as the Assembly cited insurrection as a major reason for impeachment in their resolution. The second hearing took place without the President, as the leader was arrested and taken in for questioning on Wednesday. Under the Constitutional Court Act, the judicial bench is able to hold trial hearings without the respondent, if they are absent for the second time. The Court denied Yoon's request to delay Thursday's session, saying that his 48-hour detainment didn't justify rescheduling. However, during the hearing, the bench decided to add three full days of trial hearings until February 13th. It originally set five afternoon sessions until February 4th, which Yoon's defense objected to. His legal team has argued that the trial is moving along too quickly, without sufficient discussion or notification of the proceedings. The team has also objected to the Court obtaining investigation records as evidence. To this the Court said it does not violate the law, and also announced that five senior officials under investigation including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former intelligence chief Hong Jang-won were selected as witnesses, with testimonies set for January 23rd and February 4th. The next trial hearing for the President's impeachment will be held Tuesday at 2 PM. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.