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Acting Pres. Choi attends third parliamentary hearing on insurrection allegations

2025/02/06 17:00

Meanwhile at the National Assembly today. Acting president Choi Sang-mok attended a hearing led by lawmakers into charges of insurrection against the Yoon administration. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. During a third Assembly hearing on Thursday into allegations of insurrection by the president and some of his ministers, lawmakers directed their questions to Acting President Choi Sang-mok. The spotlight was on a controversial note Choi received on December 3rd, ordering the preparation of a budget for an emergency legislative body, presumably to replace the elected National Assembly. President Yoon previously said in his third impeachment hearing at the Constitutional Court that he learned about the note through media reports. Opposition party lawmakers on the special committee sought to determine whether President Yoon issued instructions to certain Cabinet members through written notes at the time. Choi reaffirmed that he received the note but did not review it immediately. "If the emergency legislative body, as mentioned in the note, forcibly dissolved the National Assembly and replaced it, wouldn't that be an unconstitutional body?" "I'm not aware of that matter." Meanwhile, ruling party lawmakers claimed that appointing Ma Eun-hyuk to the Constitutional Court would be unfair, due to the lack of a bipartisan consensus. "I believe there was no bipartisan agreement on nominee Ma Eun-hyuk. What do you think?" "I would say that there was no agreement between the parties at that time." Thursday's session was also attended by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other officials. Han expressed concern that if the Constitutional Court doesn't make a decision the public can accept, it could cause national division. Ahead of Thursday's hearing, the committee called 25 witnesses including President Yoon, Acting President Choi, and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, to testify. However, nine of them, including Yoon and Kim, submitted excuses to not appear. At the beginning of the hearings, the opposition-led committee issued orders for Kim and three others involved in Yoon's martial law declaration to appear as witnesses. The committee's investigation is scheduled to end on February 13th, but the opposition is considering pushing for an extension, citing the absence of key witnesses at previous hearings. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/06 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Culture Minister Yu In-chon has reaffirmed the government's commitment to turning last year's pledges into tangible results. During a New Year's gathering on Wednesday, he pledged to bolster support for young artists and regional cultural ecosystems while revitalizing everyday cultural experiences for citizens. In the sports sector, he reiterated plans to reform outdated practices and strengthen fairness and transparency. In tourism, he vowed full support for the swift recovery of the domestic market. Seoul's Jung-gu District will launch a mobile tourism ticket, the "Jung-gu Tour Pass," to allure more tourists and enhance their convenience. The pass offers free admission and discounts at major attractions, restaurants, and cultural experience facilities within Jung-gu for a set period, offering a cost-effective way to enjoy various benefits with a single ticket. The basic pass covers key tourist sites, restaurants, and cafes, while the package pass expands the experience by including admission to attractions like the Namsan Cable Car. Set to launch in March, the Jung-gu Tour Pass will be available on major travel platforms, including Naver, Coupang and Yanolja. Netflix Korea has confirmed that it has no immediate plans to raise subscription fees in Korea. Vice President of Netflix Korea, Kang Dong-han made clear that there are no price hikes to announce at this time, though he did not rule out future adjustments. His remarks were made at the "Next of Netflix 2025 Korea" event, where the platform unveiled its upcoming lineup of original movies, dramas, and entertainment shows filled with Korean-made shows. That's all for now. Stay tuned for more cultural updates and insightful discussions ahead!

Discovering hidden K-music gems with French record shop owner in Seoul

2025/02/06 14:00

Korean experimental music, electronic music and music from the 70s and 80s. These music genres might be less “popular” or rather less known to the average K-pop music listener. In today’s “Hallyu People” we will have a chat with someone who IS familiar with these We are now connected to Curtis Cambou a record shop owner in Seoul, Korea. Hello Curtis/ Mr. Cambou! 1) Curtis, your record shop, Mosaic Seoul, has been running for five years now since 2020 and Mosaic West since 2023. They are home to thousands of vinyl records. Tell us a bit about the stores. 2) What kind of people visit your shop for what reasons? (The retro trend in recent years must have contributed to the interest in vinyl records?) 3) Also tell us about your record label that you run alongside your record shops? 4) Curtis, you are from France. What got you into Korean music, especially genres that are even unfamiliar to many Koreans? 4-1) Please tell us more about the characteristics of these genres and what differentiates them from similar music in France or other countries? 5) Do you have any singers or albums that you would recommend to international music lovers who are interested in Korean experimental or electronic music (or old K-pop music)? 6) Is there any singer that you wish was better known to the world?   7) Is there any music you'd like to work on in the future? And what are your plans for this year or beyond?

[K-enter] BLACKPINK Officially Confirms 2025 World Tour

2025/02/06 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Bella, as you mentioned, today's K-enter segment is filled with K-pop stories. What’s first on our list? We are going to start off with girl group BLACKPINK. On Thursday, their agency, YG Entertainment, officially announced BLACKPINK's 2025 world tour. The announcement was made on the company’s official blog as they uploaded a teaser video for the world tour. The video did not contain any details of the tour date or location, but plans are being put together. The last time we saw BLACKPINK all together for an official activity was a year and a half ago during their last world tour, “Born Pink,” back in September 2023. This tour was described as the “largest world tour in the history of a K-pop girl group,” as they performed to 1.8 million fans in 66 shows held in 34 cities around the world over the course of a year. And speaking of BLACKPINK, we have some more exciting news on one of the members? Jisoo will meet her fans in Asia for her solo fan tour. As Walter reported yesterday, Jisoo will release her new EP, “Amortage,” on February 14th. And to celebrate her new album, she will hold a special fan meet-up, “SOO IN LOVE,” at CGV Cheongdam Cinecity in Seoul on the day of her album release. Jisoo will then begin her Asian fan tour titled, “LIGHTS, LOVE, ACTION!.” This is her first solo Asian tour since her debut. During the tour, she will visit seven Asian cities-Manila, Bangkok, Tokyo, Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong and Hanoi. I will keep you all updated with both BLACKPINK and Jisoo’s tour details when they come out. Next we’ll talk about another artist who also has plans to perform for global fans? Yes, it’s G-Dragon. He will be the headliner at the ‘Head in the Clouds Los Angeles 2025,’ taking place in Los Angeles on May 31st and June 1st. ‘Head in the Clouds Los Angeles’ is a global music festival organized by the Asian-American entertainment company 88Rising, aimed at introducing Asian artists to American audiences. G-Dragon will take the stage on May 31st for the first day of the two-day event. The lineup also includes 2NE1, Dean, DPR Ian and more. G-Dragon is set to release “Ubermensch,” his first solo album in 11 years and 5 months, on February 25th. And finally we have our last story on a virtual idol group? PLAVE has set a new record! Their new mini-album, “Caligo Pt.1,” surpassed 11 million streams in just 24 hours after its release on Korean music streaming platform, Melon. With this new record, they hold the highest streams in 24 hours among Korean streaming platforms. The new album was released this Monday and it features five tracks in total. The title song “Dash” was the first song released this year to top the ‘TOP 100’ chart. The other four tracks are also near the top of the charts. PLAVE also holds the record for entering Melon’s Hall of Fame, ‘Billions Club,’ in the shortest time by reaching 1 billion cumulative streams based on all their releases. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

Reigning for 30 years, The Last Empress returns to stage

2025/02/06 14:00

"The Last Empress" is marking a remarkable milestone this year as it has been on stage for the past three decades. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin gives us a glimpse into this historical musical. "I am the queen of Joseon!" It's one of the most iconic lines in Korean musical history, bringing the final moment of Queen Min to life on stage. "The Last Empress" tells the story of Queen Min, also known as Empress Myeongseong, the wife of Gojong, the 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty and the first emperor of the short-lived Korean Empire. She was assassinated in 1895 by Japanese forces, who saw her as a threat to their growing influence in Korea. This homegrown musical premiered in 1995, exactly a century after her death. "When I was creating this production, I was searching for a story that could teach history while also being moving and entertaining. Later, when we took the production abroad, people were amazed that we had transformed such a painful chapter of our history into art." Over the past 30 years, "The Last Empress" has earned its reputation as a "living legend," of Korean musicals. It was the first Asian musical to be staged on Broadway and the West End. Even in its 22nd season now, the production continues to evolve. "The show was mostly sung-through, but we've gradually incorporated more spoken dialogue to enhance storytelling. We've also revived key musical numbers and restructured some scenes to make historical events and information clearer for audiences." This season boasts its most star-studded lineup to date. Renowned musical actresses Kim So-hyun, Shin Young-sook, and Cha Ji-yeon take turns portraying Queen Min. The cast includes both returning veterans and fresh faces, bringing new energy to the production. "I think this musical stays alive because it never settles, always pushing forward. Being part of it pushes me too. Just when I think I've given my all, I discover new emotions, new ways to interpret the role. That's the beauty of this show. It grows with time, just like we do." "Even before I entered musical theater, I knew 'The Last Empress' was legendary, as even my mother had seen it before. It's also one of the few historical musicals in Korea. Now, being part of it, I realize just how special and timeless this production is. It's an honor to carry on its legacy." And the show isn't resting on its legacy, setting its sights on a future spanning over a century. That effort continues, live on stage, night after night. "The current season of the musical 'The Last Empress' is on stage at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' Sejong Grand Theater until March 30th. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News."

Western allies slam Trump's plan to '"take over" Gaza

2025/02/06 10:00

World leaders criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to "take over" the Gaza Strip. But Trum insists "everybody loves" his proposal. Lee Seung-jae tells us more. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that the U.S. "take over" the Gaza Strip and resettle the Palestinian population. His plans to turn the area into the "Riviera of the Middle East" were heavily criticized by Western allies on Wednesday. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed its opposition to "any forced displacement" of Gazans, adding that Paris will continue to push for the implementation of a two-state solution. Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said while Italy will look into Trump's plans,.. it still remains in favor of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. German President Walter Steinmeier slammed the plan, calling it unacceptable, adding that such actions will form a serious basis "for the upcoming talks between the regional actors and the U.S. administration." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also criticized the proposal, calling the relocation of Gazans,.. a form of "ethnic cleansing." "In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing." The paramilitary Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, denounced what it called "racist comments" by the U.S. leader and vowed to fight his plans in Gaza. In a statement on Wednesday, the group said that Israel's attempt to force Palestinians to leave Gaza failed, and that Trump's proposal will also fail. Despite the international condemnation, President Trump said Wednesday at the White House, that "everybody loves" his proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza. Trump's officials were quick to clear up what they believe were misunderstandings, as U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said that Trump's plan was a unique offer to step in and clear debris and destruction in Gaza. He added that the move to relocate the Gazans was not meant as a hostile move and that details still needed to be worked out. With Trump also considering U.S. troop deployment to the Gaza Strip, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Trump is "willing to think outside the box, look for new and unique, dynamic ways to solve problems," adding that the Pentagon is prepared to look at all options. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korean government ministries and tech firms move to ban DeepSeek

2025/02/06 10:00

South Korea is joining the global wave of tightening restrictions on the Chinese AI service, DeepSeek, over data security concerns. Government ministries and firms alike are moving to ban the service. Our Moon Hye-ryeon reports. South Korean government agencies have restricted access to DeepSeek – a Chinese AI service accused of excessive data collection. Multiple government sources confirmed on Wednesday that the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy have all restricted access to DeepSeek on government computers connected to external networks. These ministries handle a significant amount of classified information related to diplomacy, national security, and trade. A Defense Ministry official told reporters that the decision was made due to widespread concerns about the AI platform. The move comes just a day after the Ministry of the Interior and Safety issued an advisory to central government ministries and 17 metropolitan and provincial governments, urging officials to be cautious when using generative AI services like DeepSeek and ChatGPT. While the advisory did not explicitly call for a ban, it warned against entering sensitive or personal information into AI platforms, citing potential security risks. South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission sent an inquiry to DeepSeek's headquarters requesting details on its data collection and storage practices, but the company has yet to respond. The private sector is also taking action, with major Korean tech companies restricting the use of DeepSeek. Kakao, an official partner of OpenAI, recently banned its employees from using the service for work by citing security concerns. LG Uplus also issued a security notice banning employees from using DeepSeek for work on the company network, and advised employees to avoid using DeepSeek on personal devices. Samsung, SK, and LG Electronics have long prohibited unauthorized software on company devices, while Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power recently reinforced its AI security policies, banning DeepSeek on its internal network. DeepSeek has also been banned from government computers in Australia and Japan, while Italy has gone as far as banning the app entirely. In the U.S., the state of Texas, has blocked DeepSeek from government-owned devices. Meanwhile, the European Union and the UK are closely monitoring potential risks associated with Chinese AI platforms. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

S. Korea's current account balance sees surplus of US$ 99.04 bil. for 2024

2025/02/06 10:00

South Korea's current account balance last year more than tripled compared to the year before on the back of booming exports. Data from the Bank of Korea on Thursday showed that the country's overall current account balance in December was the highest any month of December on record ending the year with a current account balance surplus of 99-point-0-4 billion dollars. This surpasses earlier estimates by the central bank, driven mainly by an increase in exports. Exports rose by more than eight percent year-on-year, spurred by a jump in outbound semiconductor shipments.

Live: Yoon's impeachment trial resumes Constitutional Court undecided on extending trial dates

2025/02/06 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial continues with the sixth hearing on Thursday. Starting today, hearings begin in the morning and run throughout the day with three testimonies. Our Oh Soo-young is at the Constitutional Court where the session has just kicked off. Q1. Sooyoung. The Court has seen some twists and turns in the testimonies by key witnesses so far, and today's line-up will also be interesting. That's right. The sixth hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial began just moments ago at 10 AM, with key witnesses to testify today. On the National Assembly's side, former Army Special Warfare Command chief Kwak Jong-geun will soon begin his testimony. His claims are likely to clash with what has been stated by Yoon and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun regarding the night of the martial law declaration. Ahead of the impeachment trial, Kwak refuted Yoon's claim that the military was ordered to pull out "agents" rather than "lawmakers" from the National Assembly, directly contradicting the president's defense. On Yoon's side, two witnesses will take the stand --Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, and Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop. Yoon's legal team is expected to question Kim regarding allegations that the military was ordered to storm the National Assembly under martial law. The questions for Park are likely to focus on the opposition-led parliament slashing the government's budget, which Yoon claims led to a state of national emergency, justifying his martial law. From today, hearings begin at 10AM, not 2PM, as the judges aim to speed up proceedings. Q2. And there are two hearings left now. So the question is whether the trial is nearing an end or if it'll be extended. That's right, as of now, the last hearing is scheduled for next Thursday, and it's unclear whether the Court will stick to this schedule or choose to lengthen the trial. The Court's Press Officer Cheon Jaehyun said Wednesday regarding the possibility of scheduling additional hearings that it's "a matter for the court to decide," and there's no official position yet. But the press officer noted that trial dates can be postponed depending on the circumstances. President Yoon's legal team on Tuesday had requested that impeachment trial hearings be held only once a week, arguing that it is impractical to maintain the current twice-a-week schedule while also managing Yoon's upcoming criminal trial starting on February 20th. Justices dismissed most of Yoon's witness applications related to alleged election fraud, which Yoon says was a pretext for his martial law. It has approved only 15 witnesses from both Yoon's and the National Assembly's side, despite the President's lawyers having applied for over 30 witnesses. But notably, it rescheduled a testimony session for National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho, who failed to appear in a previous hearing due to health reasons. At the moment, it seems the court is focused on avoiding delays or calling up any witnesses it deems unnecessary so as to not prolong the trial. I see. Thank you and keep us updated.

[Weather] More freezing temperatures and return of snow in most regions this afternoon

2025/02/06 10:00

It has been an absolutely frigid week here, with a cold wave warning remaining in place for most of the central parts of Korea. In Seoul, we woke up to lows of around -12 degrees Celsius, but with the wind chill, it feels even colder. And if you think that's bad, some parts of Gangwon Province, have dropped to minus 20 degrees. Snow and bitterly cold winds are making conditions even tougher for the west coast of Jeolla-do Province and Jeju with 3 to 8 centimeters of more snow in store through this morning. THEN snow returns to central regions continuing into Friday. The capital could see up to 5 centimeters, Jeollabuk-do Province could be getting 5 to 10 centimeters of snowfall. Be careful out on the roads. Bone-chilling temperatures will ease just a bit with highs jumping to above freezing in Seoul at 1 degree, Daegu and Gwangju at 3 degrees. We'll have to wait until early next week to see some much-needed cold relief. Stay warm and keep those hot drinks close.

Cristiano Ronaldo statue unveiled in Times Square

2025/02/06 10:00

Over in the U.S., a statue of Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled in New York City's Times Square on Wednesday. Standing at approximately 366 centimeters tall, the bronze statue was created by sculptor Sergio Furnari, to celebrate Ronaldo's 40th birthday. The statue was mounted on a truck and painted in green, red, and gold, the colors of the Portuguese flag. The event attracted a large crowd of fans, many waving Portuguese flags and chanting Ronaldo's signature "Siu" celebration. The statue will be taken on a tour around the world by the creator.

Russia-Ukraine swap 150 prisoners of war

2025/02/06 10:00

Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of prisoners of war on Wednesday, with each side releasing 150 soldiers. The swap took place in an undisclosed location, mediated by the United Arab Emirates. The released Russian soldiers were transported to Belarus, for medical examination and rehabilitation before returning to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of Ukrainian personnel, including members of the navy, air force, and ground forces. The last exchange of prisoners took place in December of last year.

UK's foreign minister visits Kyiv, announces further financial support

2025/02/06 10:00

The UK has announced an additional financial aid package, to support Ukraine, during a visit by the British Foreign Secretary to Kyiv. Approximately 68.7 million U.S. dollars, in financial support was announced by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday. The new aid package aims to bolster Ukraine's resilience against Russian aggression, and is designed to cover energy initiatives, economic recovery, and social services. The announcement follows the recent signing of a 100-year partnership agreement between the UK and Ukraine in January, aimed at strengthening defense cooperation and economic collaboration. Since Russia's invasion, the UK has committed a total of 977 million pounds or approximately 1.22 billion U.S. dollars in support for Ukraine.

U.S. reinstates acceptance of parcels from China and Hong Kong after suspension

2025/02/06 10:00

The United States Postal Service, has announced, that it has resumed accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong, following a brief suspension after recent tariff changes. On Wednesday, the U.S. Postal Service announced it would resume accepting all inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong, reversing a suspension that lasted less than a day. The initial halt came in response to the U.S. government's imposition of a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, as well as the suspension of a customs exception, which previously allowed packages valued under 800 U.S. dollars to enter the country duty-free. The brief suspension had raised concerns among e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein, which heavily rely on direct shipments from China to U.S. consumers. Following the resumption of accepting parcels, Temu's parent company, PDD Holdings, saw its stock recover some losses.

Tremors continue in Santorini with two thirds of residents evacuating island

2025/02/06 10:00

As tremors continue to shake the world-famous Greek island of Santorini, two-thirds of the residents on the island have reportedly left. According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, on Wednesday, citing officials, more than 11-thousand of the island's 16-thousand residents evacuated to the mainland. Of them, 7-thousand took ferries, while 4-thousand left on passenger planes. There have been hundreds of earthquakes in the region around Santorini for the past 13 days. While there have been no injuries or major damage, concerns are growing that the series of small tremors may be a precursor to a major earthquake.

On-point: How can S. Korea make sure it's not left out of Trump diplomacy?

2025/02/06 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump continues to expand his presence by sitting down with world leaders. How can South Korea make sure that it doesn't get left out of Trump's diplomacy? We're joined by Professor Andrew Millard. Good morning. 1. After holding his first summit talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump is now set to meet the Japanese Prime Minister this week. Why do you think Trump picked Japan to hold his second summit with? What significance does their summit carry? 2. South Korea has been going through a rough time ever since the martial law order was issued last December, which means diplomacy is not at the forefront, especially with the country's leadership at risk. Should South Korea be worried that no Seoul-Washington summit is in sight? 3. The historic Camp David trilateral summit between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan took place back in summer 2023. Can something similar to this happen again during the Trump administration? Or is it pie in the sky? 4. How can we approach the Trump administration so that we're not left out of Trump diplomacy? And on the global diplomatic front? What should we do? 5. The formal appointment of Kim Dae-ki, the ambassador-designate to China and President Yoon's former chief of staff, has been delayed because of Yoon's impeachment trial. Isn't this a big concern that the post is vacant, especially when we see another trade war growing between the U.S. and China? Thanks so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

S. Korea, U.S. national security advisors agree to meet at earliest possible date in first phone talks

2025/02/06 10:00

Seoul and Washington's national security advisors Shin Won-sik and Michael Waltz held their first phone call on Wednesday night, agreeing to meet at the earliest possible date in person in Washington. This follows Waltz's appointment as the first top security official of the second Trump Administration. According to Seoul's top office, the two exchanged views on bilateral relations, North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. They also discussed cooperation on regional and global issues. Shin congratulated Waltz on his appointment and expressed confidence that the South Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to strengthen under the Trump administration. The U.S. official also said he expects the two countries would further expand their cooperation across a range of fields.

Third parliamentary hearing on insurrection allegations takes place after committee fails to question Yoon, Kim on-site

2025/02/06 10:00

The National Assembly's special committee investigating the Yoon administration over allegations of planning an insurrection is holding its third hearing on Thursday morning. The committee has called 25 witnesses including President Yoon Suk Yeol, Acting President Choi Sang-mok, and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, to testify at today's hearing. However, nine of them, including Yoon and Kim, submitted notices of absence. This comes a day after a parliamentary attempt, led by the main opposition party, to question Yoon and Kim at their respective detention centers failed as both refused to participate. The ruling party also boycotted those questioning attempts. The committee's investigation is scheduled to end on February 13th, but the opposition is considering pushing for an extension, citing the absence of key witnesses in previous hearings.

STOCK

2025/02/05 20:00

2025. 2. 5. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,509.27 ▲27.58 +1.11% KOSDAQ : 730.98 ▲11.06 +1.54% KOSPI200 : 332.47 ▲3.75 +1.14% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,831.48 ▲33.11 +0.09% HANG SENG : 20,597.09 ▼192.87 -0.93% SHANGHAI : 3,229.49 ▼21.11 -0.65% WALL STREET (February 4) DOW JONES : 44,556.04 ▲134.13 +0.30% NASDAQ : 19,654.02 ▲262.06 +1.35% S&P500 : 6,037.88 ▲43.31 +0.72% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,444.30 (-18.60) JPY : 942.29 (+0.73) CNY : 198.33 (-1.56) EUR : 1,501.13 (-4.85)

Yoon, Kim refuse to answer lawmakers' questions at detention centers

2025/02/05 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. A parliamentary effort today led by the opposition to question President Yoon Suk Yeol and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at their respective detention centers failed to bear fruit. Kim Jung-sil leads us off. Both President Yoon and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun refused to cooperate with the National Assembly's committee, which visited the detention centers holding them to conduct questioning. On Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers attempted to question Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center, where he is being held. However, the president refused to meet with them, following the same pattern of refusing to attend previous hearings by the same committee. Earlier in the day, the committee visited the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center in eastern Seoul to question former Defense Minister Kim. However, he also declined to participate, citing a "busy schedule" and a need to meet with his legal team. "We waited, but he didn't show up. They claim he's meeting with his legal team, but I believe it's just an excuse to avoid questioning." As a result, the committee has reported Kim for contempt of the National Assembly. Meanwhile, lawmakers from the ruling party boycotted the questioning, opposing the selection of President Yoon as a witness. In a separate development, the National Police Agency's Special Investigation Division announced Wednesday that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was summoned the day before for questioning in connection with insurrection charges. This marks the second round of questioning for Han, with the first having taken place in December. The police are investigating his role in the decision to declare emergency martial law, specifically focusing on whether proper legal procedures were followed. The Prime Minister has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that no constitutional violations occurred during the Cabinet meeting prior to the martial law declaration. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.