News

President Yoon's impeachment trial to end on February 25

2025/02/21 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. The President's impeachment trial will come to a close next week with an 11th hearing that will see the respective sides sharing their final remarks. Eyes are now on the upcoming verdict. Oh Soo-young has our top story. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will conclude next Tuesday with his final statement at the Constitutional Court. The Court announced Thursday at Yoon's 10th trial hearing,. that the next and final session would be held on February 25th, some 74 days after the impeachment vote passed at the National Assembly. The bench will review remaining evidence before the National Assembly's legal team and the President's lawyers each make their closing arguments. Then the Assembly panel's Co-Chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final remarks. The Court on Thursday held the last round of witness examinations. "The questions focused on whether President Yoon had gone through proper Cabinet procedures before declaring martial law, and whether he'd ordered arrests of key politicians and judicial figures." First up was Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who said there had been anomalies in procedure and substance, compared to a standard Cabinet meeting. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him before recommending martial law to the President, as required by the Constitution,.. and said no minutes were taken. Han stopped short of judging whether or not a legitimate Cabinet meeting took place, saying that should be determined through investigative and judicial procedures. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won who was a witness earlier this month returned for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. Hong previously testified that he'd made note of 14 to 16 figures to arrest under martial law, claiming he'd written it in the night outside the residence of his boss Director Cho Tae-yong. He received the names from Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, who Hong phoned as the President told him to "help out the commander." But Hong changed his words on Thursday, saying he had been in his office after all. His boss told the Court last week that Hong had lied about his whereabouts citing CCTV footage. As Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his note which was reproduced and altered various times, the President spoke out,.. saying the debate misses the point. He said he'd called Hong to encourage him to work with Yeo on hunting down spies, without mentioning martial law. He pointed out Hong was the one who called the Commander, made notes, and then held onto them until he was dismissed from the NIS. National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho also stood witness, after two absences due to illness. He refused to answer most questions due to his own criminal case, but said he testified truthfully to prosecutors. Cho had said Yoon called him six times on December 3rd and told him to arrest lawmakers. Based on past presidential impeachment trials, a verdict is likely to be reached within two weeks around March 11th. Former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Zelenskyy meets Trump’s Ukraine envoy but press conference canceled

2025/02/21 20:00

On the international front. Amid recent tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine, Ukraine's President met with Trump's envoy. Zelenskyy called the meeting "productive," but a scheduled joint press conference was cancelled. Choi Min-jung covers this event and more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met in Kyiv on Thursday, and held what Zelenskyy called a "productive meeting." Zelenskyy shared on social media that they had a "detailed conversation" about the battlefield situation, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Ukraine relations. However, the meeting did not result in significant breakthroughs in securing U.S. support, as evidenced by the cancellation of a planned joint press conference at the request of the U.S. What was supposed to be a media event turned into a brief photo opportunity without remarks or questions. Kellogg's visit to Kyiv came amid escalating tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy. On Wednesday, Ukraine rejected U.S. demands for 500 billion U.S. dollars in minerals as repayment for wartime aid, citing inadequate support from Washington and a lack of security guarantees. Trump's frustration with Zelenskyy is apparent, as he believes Zelenskyy has not taken advantage of the opportunities presented. "Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy. The fact that that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered. I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly." Additionally, the U.S. is resisting putting the blame on Russia for the war by opposing the inclusion of "Russian aggression" in a G7 joint statement marking the war's third anniversary. This follows Trump's comments blaming Ukraine for the war and calling Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections." He has also proposed inviting Russia back to the G7. Next week, Trump is set to meet with the leaders of France and the UK to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine and post-war planning. European nations have so far been left without a clear role in the peace talks. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

Gov't to improve landing facilities and bird strike prevention at 7 airports nationwide

2025/02/21 20:00

New safety measures will be initiated for fire prevention, fishing operations, and aviation. At Friday's meeting between the government and the ruling People Power Party, they announced detailed measures to prevent the recurrence of recent accidents. Following a passenger aircraft accident that resulted in 179 casualties last year, landing facilities and bird strike prevention equipment at seven airports nationwide will be improved. Also, due to consecutive fishing boat capsizings, fishing crews will receive free inflatable life jackets. And nearly 2-thousand construction sites will be urgently inspected until March 17th, while fire safety laws will be revised to prevent massive on-site fires.

S. Korean gov't and business leaders urge U.S. for tariff exemptions and strong economic ties

2025/02/21 20:00

Korean trade officials and business leaders were in Washington this week with key trade agenda between the two countries amid the Trump administration's tariff campaign. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. As South Korea seeks tariff relief and stronger economic cooperation, both government and business leaders are making a united effort to secure favorable conditions for Korean firms operating in the U.S. According to the trade ministry on Friday, Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won met with senior U.S. officials from the White House, the Commerce Department, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during his visit to Washington D.C. this week. He urged the U.S. to exempt South Korea from its new import tariff plans, citing the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement that has eliminated most tariffs on goods between the two nations, and highlighted substantial investments and contributions under the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act from South Korean firms. A South Korean delegation led by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won also met with top U.S. officials in a bid to strengthen economic ties. During talks with senior White House officials, Chey emphasized that South Korean companies have invested over 160 billion dollars in the U.S. manufacturing sector in the past eight years – creating more than 80 thousand high-quality jobs. Chey requested close cooperation between the two governments, while White House officials reportedly described discussions with the delegation as the most productive they have had with a private-sector group. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Pres. Yoon named suspect on charges of obstructing investigators' attempts to detain him

2025/02/21 20:00

In a separate development. The National Police Agency has booked President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant last month. Shin Ha-young explains. President Yoon Suk Yeol has been booked by the NPA for allegedly using the Presidential Security Service to block investigators' attempts to detain him last month over his declaration of martial law. According to police on Friday, Yoon has been booked on charges of "special" obstruction of public duty. However, as a sitting president, he cannot be criminally prosecuted. The special police investigation unit looking into the martial law declaration has reportedly obtained text messages between Yoon and PSS Deputy Chief Kim Seong-hoon regarding efforts to block the execution of the warrant to detain him. It was confirmed that they exchanged messages through the U.S.-based messaging app Signal on January 3rd, during the first attempt to serve the warrant. Four days later, they exchanged messages again, with Yoon ordering the security team to intervene if a second attempt was made. Kim relayed the order to his staff, but they refused to comply, leading to Yoon's arrest on January 15th. The police did not disclose the details of the messages. Meanwhile, the special investigation unit announced on Friday that they had transferred the case of six military officials, including Won Cheon-hee, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. The officials were booked on charges of insurrection. The CIO launched a search and seizure procedure the same day at Won's house and office. It is investigating allegations that Won met with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, Moon Sang-ho, the day before Yoon's martial law declaration to discuss its imposition. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea's FM holds talks with UK, Australia at G20 FM meeting in South Africa

2025/02/21 17:00

Meanwhile on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in South Africa Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul sat down separately with his British and Australian counterparts. On the agenda were diverse global matters including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's illicit military support. Top diplomats are gathered in Johannesburg for the first G20 ministerial meeting of the year centered around the theme of "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability." Notably U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced his absence from the meeting finding fault with the theme of the latest talks for resembling diversity equity and inclusion initiatives which the Trump administration opposes.

Zelenskyy meets Trump’s Ukraine envoy but press conference canceled

2025/02/21 17:00

A scheduled joint press conference was cancelled following talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg at the request of the U.S. Choi Min-jung covers this event and more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met in Kyiv on Thursday,. and held what Zelenskyy called a "productive meeting." Zelenskyy shared on social media that they had a "detailed conversation" about the battlefield situation, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Ukraine relations. However, the meeting did not result in significant breakthroughs in securing U.S. support, as evidenced by the cancellation of a planned joint press conference at the request of the U.S. What was supposed to be a media event turned into a brief photo opportunity without remarks or questions. Kellogg's visit to Kyiv came amid escalating tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy. On Wednesday, Ukraine rejected U.S. demands for 500 billion U.S. dollars in minerals as repayment for wartime aid, citing inadequate support from Washington and a lack of security guarantees. Trump's frustration with Zelenskyy is apparent, as he believes Zelenskyy has not taken advantage of the opportunities presented. "Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy. The fact that that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered. I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly." Additionally, the U.S. is resisting putting the blame on Russia for the war by opposing the inclusion of "Russian aggression" in a G7 joint statement marking the war's third anniversary. This follows Trump's comments blaming Ukraine for the war and calling Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections." He has also proposed inviting Russia back to the G7. Next week, Trump is set to meet with the leaders of France and the UK to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine and post-war planning. European nations have so far been left without a clear role in the peace talks. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

Deputy Trade Minister asks U.S. to leave S. Korea out of new tariffs scheme

2025/02/21 17:00

South Korea is seeking an exemption from the Trump administration's tariff campaign given the presence of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. According to the Trade Ministry here on this Friday Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won formally made a request to this end during talks in Washington this week with officials from the White House the Commerce Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He also reportedly called for mutually beneficial trade endeavors while underscoring the substantial investment in the U.S. made by Korean companies in recent times.

Pres. Yoon named suspect on charges of obstructing investigators' attempts to detain him

2025/02/21 17:00

In a separate development. The National Police Agency has booked President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant. Shin Ha-young explains. President Yoon Suk Yeol has been booked by the NPA for allegedly using the Presidential Security Service to block investigators' attempts to detain him last month over his declaration of martial law. According to police on Friday, Yoon has been booked on charges of "special" obstruction of public duty. However, as a sitting president, he cannot be criminally prosecuted. The special police investigation unit looking into the martial law declaration has reportedly obtained text messages between Yoon and PSS Deputy Chief Kim Seong-hoon regarding efforts to block the execution of the warrant to detain him. It was confirmed that they exchanged messages through the U.S.-based messaging app Signal on January 3rd, during the first attempt to serve the warrant. Four days later, they exchanged messages again, with Yoon ordering the security team to intervene if a second attempt was made. Kim relayed the order to his staff, but they refused to comply, leading to Yoon's arrest on January 15th. The police did not disclose the details of the messages. Meanwhile, the special investigation unit announced on Friday that they had transferred the case of six military officials, including Won Cheon-hee, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. The officials were booked on charges of insurrection. The CIO launched a search and seizure procedure the same day at Won's house and office. It is investigating allegations that Won met with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, Moon Sang-ho, the day before Yoon's martial law declaration to discuss its imposition. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

President Yoon's impeachment trial to end on February 25

2025/02/21 17:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will come to a close next Tuesday with an 11th hearing that will see the president and the parliamentary impeachment panel sharing their final remarks. Our Oh Soo-young reports. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will conclude next Tuesday with his final statement at the Constitutional Court. The Court announced Thursday at Yoon's 10th trial hearing, that the next and final session would be held on February 25th, some 74 days after the impeachment vote passed at the National Assembly. The bench will review remaining evidence before the National Assembly's legal team and the President's lawyers each make their closing arguments. Then the Assembly panel's Co-Chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final remarks. The Court on Thursday held the last round of witness examinations. "The questions focused on whether President Yoon had gone through proper Cabinet procedures before declaring martial law, and whether he'd ordered arrests of key politicians and judicial figures." First up was Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who said there had been anomalies in procedure and substance, compared to a standard Cabinet meeting. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him before recommending martial law to the President, as required by the Constitution, and said no minutes were taken. Han stopped short of judging whether or not a legitimate Cabinet meeting took place, saying that should be determined through investigative and judicial procedures. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won who was a witness earlier this month returned for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. Hong previously testified that he'd made note of 14 to 16 figures to arrest under martial law, claiming he'd written it in the night outside the residence of his boss Director Cho Tae-yong. He received the names from Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, who Hong phoned as the President told him to "help out the commander." But Hong changed his words on Thursday, saying he had been in his office after all. His boss told the Court last week that Hong had lied about his whereabouts citing CCTV footage. As Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his note which was reproduced and altered various times, the President spoke out, saying the debate misses the point. He said he'd called Hong to encourage him to work with Yeo on hunting down spies, without mentioning martial law. He pointed out Hong was the one who called the Commander, made notes, and then held onto them until he was dismissed from the NIS. National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho also stood witness, after two absences due to illness. He refused to answer most questions due to his own criminal case, but said he testified truthfully to prosecutors. Cho had said Yoon called him six times on December 3rd and told him to arrest lawmakers. Based on past presidential impeachment trials, a verdict is likely to be reached within two weeks around March 11th. Former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

World News: Series of bus explosions near Tel Aviv being investigated

2025/02/21 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In Israel, three buses exploded in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv on Thursday, in what authorities are investigating as coordinated terror attacks. No casualties have been reported. The explosions on three empty buses parked approximately 500 meters apart happened within minutes of each other, and are believed to have been caused by makeshift explosive devices equipped with timers. Two bombs were discovered on other buses, but were defused by police. A note was found with one of the unexploded devices, referencing "Revenge from Tulkarem," alluding to a recent Israeli military operation in the West Bank. In response to the incident, a temporary halt to all public transportation nationwide has been ordered, to facilitate thorough investigations. Israel's internal security agency has taken over the investigation, and a search is underway for suspects. Meanwhile, Israel has received the bodies of what Hamas says are four hostages including a mother and her two young children. But Israel says one of the bodies is of someone else. On Thursday, Hamas returned the remains of what were claimed to be Shiri Bibas, aged 32, and her 4-year-old and 9-months-old sons, along with Oded Lifshitz, an 84-year-old journalist. However, the Israel Defense Forces says that one of the sets of remains was not that of Shiri Bibas. The handover in Khan Younis, Gaza, was marked by a provocative display by Palestinians, with coffins covered with offensive imagery and anti-Israel slogans. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the scene, calling Hamas "monsters" for their actions. In Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, thousands gathered to mourn the dead hostages, who were abducted during the October 2023 attacks. U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Thursday during a press conference at the White House that all NATO members should allocate at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product to defense spending, a standard set in 2014. The call to action comes ahead of the NATO summit, slated for June, where defense budgets are expected to be a central topic of discussion. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that NATO member states should spend 5 percent of their GDP, beyond the 2 percent guideline. Currently, 18 of NATO's 32 member countries meet or exceed the 2 percent GDP defense spending benchmark. However, several nations, including Canada, have yet to reach this target. In the United Kingdom, London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2025 has kicked off. The event, which runs until February 24, features a mix of traditional runway shows and digital presentations, encompassing both established and emerging designers. This season, the British Fashion Council has introduced sustainability requirements for brands, emphasizing the industry's commitment to environmental responsibility. Participants include Harris Reed, who opened the week with a showcase, while Burberry is set to close the event on Monday evening. A pop-up shop to commercially support designers will also run from February 22 to 24. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

On-point: Why would U.S., Russia normalize ties all of a sudden?

2025/02/21 10:00

Washington and Moscow appear to be getting closer on the back of their Ukraine war peacemaking negotiations. Will their renewed ties mean the end of the war? Let's turn to Professor Mason Richey. Thanks for coming onto our program. 1. How did the U.S. and Russia agree to normalize their ties all of a sudden? Or is this not an 'of all a sudden' development? Are they using the Ukraine crisis as leverage? 2. Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be quite satisfied with the latest peace talks between Washington and Moscow. What do you think satisfied him about the negotiations? Trump pleasing Putin? 3. Why do you think the U.S. and Russia decided to have the first peace talks alone? Why not invite Ukraine or other European nations? Will Russia make sure Ukraine doesn't get left out of peace talks? 4. Trump attacked Zelenskyy by calling him a "dictator" after Zelenskyy accused Trump of repeating Russian disinformation. Is Trump attacking Zelenskyy only because Zelenskky used harsh words? Or does Trump have something else in mind? 5. How likely is it that Trump and Putin will meet this month? If they do meet, will plans to end the Ukraine war be expedited? Thank you so much for connecting with us this morning. We appreciate it.

NATO members need to hit spending target by June: US security advisor Waltz

2025/02/21 10:00

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Thursday during a press conference at the White House that all NATO members should allocate at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product to defense spending, a standard set in 2014. The call to action comes ahead of the NATO summit, slated for June, where defense budgets are expected to be a central topic of discussion. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that NATO member states should spend 5 percent of their GDP, beyond the 2 percent guideline. Currently, 18 of NATO's 32 member countries meet or exceed the 2 percent GDP defense spending benchmark. However, several nations, including Canada, have yet to reach this target.

Israelis gather in Tel Aviv square following the release of bodies of four hostages by Hamas

2025/02/21 10:00

Meanwhile, Israel has received the bodies of what Hamas says are four hostages including a mother and her two young children. But Israel says one of the bodies is of someone else. On Thursday, Hamas returned the remains of what were claimed to be Shiri Bibas, aged 32, and her 4-year-old and 9-months-old sons, along with Oded Lifshitz, an 84-year-old journalist. However, the Israel Defense Forces says that one of the sets of remains was not that of Shiri Bibas. The handover in Khan Younis, Gaza, was marked by a provocative display by Palestinians, with coffins covered with offensive imagery and anti-Israel slogans. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the scene, calling Hamas "monsters" for their actions. In Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, thousands gathered to mourn the dead hostages, who were abducted during the October 2023 attacks.

Series of bus explosions near Tel Aviv, no casualties reported

2025/02/21 10:00

Beginning in the Middle East, where there were several bus explosions in Israel, suspected to be terrorist attacks. , tell us more. Right. Three buses exploded in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv on Thursday, in what authorities are investigating as coordinated terror attacks. No casualties have been reported. The explosions on three empty buses parked approximately 500 meters apart happened within minutes of each other, and are believed to have been caused by makeshift explosive devices equipped with timers. Two bombs were discovered on other buses, but were defused by police. A note was found with one of the unexploded devices, referencing "Revenge from Tulkarem," alluding to a recent Israeli military operation in the West Bank. In response to the incident, a temporary halt to all public transportation nationwide has been ordered, to facilitate thorough investigations. Israel's internal security agency has taken over the investigation, and a search is underway for suspects.

Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team on N. Korea sanctions holds first meeting

2025/02/21 10:00

A new North Korean sanctions monitoring mechanism held its very first meeting in Washington D.C. this week. According to South Korea's foreign ministry on Friday, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, which oversees the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea, met on Wednesday, and urged all nations to join international efforts to maintain peace and security against ongoing threats from Pyongyang. The team consists of eleven countries including South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. It was formed last October, after Russia vetoed the renewal of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea. Though the team operates outside of the UN system, it will publish reports detailing North Korea's violations of sanctions. The first report is set to be released by South Korea in the first half of this year.

Zelenskyy meets Trump’s Ukraine envoy but press conference canceled

2025/02/21 10:00

The Ukrainian President met with Trump's U.S. envoy for Ukraine to discuss the ongoing war, though their scheduled joint press conference was called off at Washington's request, amid rising tensions over ending the war. Choi Min-jung reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met in Kyiv on Thursday,. and held what Zelenskyy called a "productive meeting." Zelenskyy shared on social media that they had a "detailed conversation" about the battlefield situation, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Ukraine relations. However, the meeting did not result in significant breakthroughs in securing U.S. support, as evidenced by the cancellation of a planned joint press conference at the request of the U.S. What was supposed to be a media event turned into a brief photo opportunity without remarks or questions. Kellogg's visit to Kyiv came amid escalating tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy. On Wednesday, Ukraine rejected U.S. demands for 500 billion U.S. dollars in minerals as repayment for wartime aid, citing inadequate support from Washington and a lack of security guarantees. Trump's frustration with Zelenskyy is apparent, as he believes Zelenskyy has not taken advantage of the opportunities presented. "Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy. The fact that that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered. I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly." Additionally, the U.S. is resisting putting the blame on Russia for the war by opposing the inclusion of "Russian aggression" in a G7 joint statement marking the war's third anniversary. This follows Trump's comments blaming Ukraine for the war and calling Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections." He has also proposed inviting Russia back to the G7. Next week, Trump is set to meet with the leaders of France and the UK to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine and post-war planning. European nations have so far been left without a clear role in the peace talks. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

President Yoon's impeachment trial to end on Feb. 25

2025/02/21 10:00

The Constitutional Court will wrap up President Yoon's impeachment case after 11 hearings. The President will deliver his closing statement at a session next Tuesday, and it's expected the Court will deliver a verdict in mid-March. Oh Soo-young has the details. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will conclude next Tuesday with his final statement at the Constitutional Court. The Court announced Thursday at Yoon's 10th trial hearing,. that the next and final session would be held on February 25th, some 74 days after the impeachment vote passed at the National Assembly. The bench will review remaining evidence before the National Assembly's legal team and the President's lawyers each make their closing arguments. Then the Assembly panel's Co-Chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final remarks. The Court on Thursday held the last round of witness examinations. "The questions focused on whether President Yoon had gone through proper Cabinet procedures before declaring martial law, and whether he'd ordered arrests of key politicians and judicial figures." First up was Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who said there had been anomalies in procedure and substance, compared to a standard Cabinet meeting. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him before recommending martial law to the President, as required by the Constitution,.. and said no minutes were taken. Han stopped short of judging whether or not a legitimate Cabinet meeting took place, saying that should be determined through investigative and judicial procedures. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won who was a witness earlier this month returned for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. Hong previously testified that he'd made note of 14 to 16 figures to arrest under martial law, claiming he'd written it in the night outside the residence of his boss Director Cho Tae-yong. He received the names from Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, who Hong phoned as the President told him to "help out the commander." But Hong changed his words on Thursday, saying he had been in his office after all. His boss told the Court last week that Hong had lied about his whereabouts citing CCTV footage. As Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his note which was reproduced and altered various times, the President spoke out,.. saying the debate misses the point. He said he'd called Hong to encourage him to work with Yeo on hunting down spies, without mentioning martial law. He pointed out Hong was the one who called the Commander, made notes, and then held onto them until he was dismissed from the NIS. National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho also stood witness, after two absences due to illness. He refused to answer most questions due to his own criminal case, but said he testified truthfully to prosecutors. Cho had said Yoon called him six times on December 3rd and told him to arrest lawmakers. Based on past presidential impeachment trials, a verdict is likely to be reached within two weeks around March 11th. Former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Acting pres., Nat'l Assembly speaker, leaders of PPP, DP in four-way meeting to discuss state affairs

2025/02/20 20:00

The nation's key political figures sat down at the National Assembly today, trying to iron out their differences over certain state affairs, surrounding the chip industry, in particular. Our political correspondent Lee Shi-hoo reports. At Sarangjae, a traditional Korean building tucked away in a corner of the National Assembly compound, political leaders sat down for discussions on state affairs. Those currently in charge of leading the government and National Assembly gathered there for the first-ever meeting of its kind four-way "joint consultative" talks between Acting President Choi Sang-mok, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, ruling People Power Party leader Kwon Young-se and main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. "The talks between the four respective leaders were held to (quote) "stabilize state affairs" after the aftermath of martial law declaration back in December." Acting President Choi called for a "bold reform" to revive the economy. "The difficulty in people's livelihoods is increasing due to political and external uncertainties. The government has consistently said that we need to respond to these changes through bold reform and investment." And one way to do that? Choi says, is by supporting the domestic semiconductor industry, by allowing chip companies an exception to the current labor law so that employees in the sector can work more than 52 hours per week. This is outlined in the proposal of a special act on semiconductors, pushed by the ruling People Power Party. The main opposition Democratic Party, while it agrees with the need to support the chip market, is opposed to the labor law exception that may lead to excessive work by those in the industry. Amid their differing opinions on this, and on other topics up for discussion, a strong plea was made by the Assembly speaker: "Instead of focusing on how to carry out the argument, I earnestly ask you to engage in this meeting around what can be yielded, compromised, and negotiated." However, the parties did not reach a consensus on the semiconductors act. The leaders also discussed the supplementary budget for this year, but decided to have further discussions in the near future. Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.

Yoon becomes first sitting S. Korean president to stand criminal trial, as hearing begins

2025/02/20 20:00

Earlier in the morning, President Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting Korean leader to stand trial in a criminal case for his brief imposition of martial law. And a separate hearing also took place to review the president's request to have his detention canceled. Our Bae Eun-ji reports. The first preliminary hearing of President Yoon's criminal trial on Thursday morning lasted only around 13 minutes. In a suit and a red tie, Yoon was present at the Seoul Central District Court. He was not required to attend,.. as a defendant does not have to be present at a preliminary hearing. So eyes were on whether if he would speak for himself, but he remained silent throughout. Yoon's lawyers said they need more time, asking for three more weeks to review records. The court said the next hearing is on March 24th and said it would proceed with the trial afterward. Meanwhile, a separate hearing was also held to review Yoon's request to have his detention canceled. Earlier this month, Yoon's legal team asked for the court to release the president, having been at the Seoul Detention Center since his arrest. His lawyers argued that Yoon was indicted a day after the detention period expired on January 25th, while the prosecutors said the whole process was done in a legal manner. The court on Thursday said both sides have 10 days to submit any additional documents and said it would make a decision after a thorough review. "Thursday's session marks the start of a criminal trial that could lead to life in prison or even the death penalty for Yoon, if found guilty of insurrection. Yoon has now become the first sitting president in South Korean history to undergo a criminal trial. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News."