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Natl Assembly set to vote on new special probe bill against ex-President Yoon, wife
The National Assembly, led by the ruling Democratic Party, was set to vote Friday on a bill to launch another new special counsel probe into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition and its aftermath, as well as allegations surrounding his wife. The DP will put the bill to a vote during a plenary session as the opposition's filibuster to block the move ends later in the day after reaching its 24-hour limit. The bill for the second round of the comprehensive special counsel probe w
Jan. 16, 2026 -
Ex-President Yoon set to receive 1st verdict on charges stemming from martial law attempt
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to receive a court ruling Friday on charges he obstructed investigators' attempt to detain him last year, the first verdict on cases stemming from his 2024 declaration of martial law. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team sought a 10-year prison term for Yoon last month on obstruction of justice and other charges, saying the former president committed a "grave crime" by "privatizing" state institutions with the aim of concealing and justifying his criminal acts
Jan. 16, 2026 -
Seoul High Court to install 2 insurrection divisions next month
The Seoul High Court said Thursday it will install two trial divisions next month dedicated to insurrection cases, including that of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The decision was reached during a meeting of all judges as a follow-up to a new bill, recently passed by the ruling party-led National Assembly, on the establishment of trial divisions dedicated to cases of insurrection, treason and mutiny. The two new divisions will launch Feb. 23 following a regular reshuffle of judges scheduled fo
Jan. 15, 2026 -
Seoul city councilor appears before police again over bribery allegations
A Seoul city councilor accused of bribing a former ruling party lawmaker appeared before police Thursday to undergo questioning for the second time this week. Kim Kyung arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's office to be questioned again as a suspect in the bribery case after being grilled immediately upon her return from the United States on Sunday. Kim has been accused of handing over 100 million won ($68,170) to an aide of Rep. Kang Sun-woo, formerly of the Democratic Party, ahead
Jan. 15, 2026 -
Spy case or teen mistake? Lawyer calls it ‘youthful indiscretion’
An attorney representing two Chinese national teenagers charged with espionage-related offenses under South Korean criminal law argued that their actions amounted to a “youthful indiscretion with no mastermind behind it” during their first trial, according to local media. The hearing was held Tuesday at the Suwon District Court in Gyeonggi Province. The two defendants, aged 17 and 19, were arrested for photographing South Korean military facilities and major international airports. The attorney
Jan. 13, 2026 -
161 viewers booked for tipping sexual livestream involving minor
A total of 161 viewers of an online livestream have been referred to prosecutors for aiding in the sexual exploitation of a minor by sending monetary tips to the streamers, police said Tuesday. According to Incheon Seobu Police Station, the livestream involved inappropriate sexual contact between several streamers and a juvenile. The program featured eight streamers who performed specific sexual acts once donations reached predetermined amounts, with the rules openly announced to viewers during
Jan. 13, 2026 -
Pivotal week for Yoon in court
This week is set to be pivotal in determining the legal consequences of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, as he faces a succession of closely watched court proceedings. Tuesday marked the final hearing in Yoon's insurrection trial, during which Yoon's attorneys delivered their final arguments. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk had not yet submitted his sentencing request as of press time. Five separate court proceedings are scheduled for Yoon this w
Jan. 13, 2026 -
Court to hear sentencing request for ex-President Yoon over martial law declaration
The final hearing of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's insurrection trial was held Tuesday amid keen interest in the level of punishment he will face for his brief imposition of martial law, including the possibility of the death penalty. The hearing was held at the Seoul Central District Court, resuming what was supposed to be the final session last Friday. The Friday hearing was suspended after lawyers for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, one of the other defendants in the trial, delayed
Jan. 13, 2026 -
Korea maps investigative, prosecutorial powers after breakup
The South Korean government on Monday gave more details of the two new agencies that will replace the Prosecutors' Office, following legislative approval last year to dismantle the country's 78-year-old prosecutorial system. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea led revisions to the Government Organization Act last year to abolish the Prosecutors' Office in September 2026, following a one-year grace period, redistributing its concentrated powers of investigation and indictment between two separat
Jan. 12, 2026 -
Top court backs taxation of overseas-registered patents used in Korea
The Supreme Court has ruled that income derived from patents used in Korea is subject to Korean taxation, even if the patents are not registered domestically, reaffirming its position that actual use in local industrial activity is sufficient to establish taxation jurisdiction. In a recent ruling on a case filed by Optodot Corp., a US-based patent holding company, the court overturned a lower court decision that had favored the company. Optodot had sought a revision of about 500 million won ($34
Jan. 12, 2026 -
Korea wrapped up in ‘special counsel war’ amid justice system mistrust
South Korea’s National Assembly is sliding into what political observers describe as a full-scale “special counsel war." Rival parties are proposing overlapping independent probes one after another, while the ruling party chief has floated the idea of another probe to make up for any shortcomings of investigations that have not yet even approved by the Assembly. The flood of independent probes has raised questions over whether special prosecutors, once considered an extraordinary legal tool, hav
Jan. 11, 2026 -
Ex-President Yoon's insurrection trial to conclude this week
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's trial on charges of leading an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law is set to conclude this week amid keen interest in the level of punishment he will face, including the possibility of the death penalty. The Seoul Central District Court is scheduled to hold four hearings this week -- on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday -- in the insurrection trial of Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former National Police Agency chief C
Jan. 5, 2026 -
Working hour restriction ease, delivery platform penalties
Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Labor Standards Act Proposed by Rep. Kim So-hee (People Power Party) Proposed Bill: Act on Food Delivery Platform Service Fees Proposed by Rep. Kim Nam-geun (Democratic Party of Korea) Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act Proposed by Rep. Park Beom-kye (Democratic Party of Korea) Promulgated Bill: Korea Development Bank Act Competent Authority: Financial Services Commission Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendmen
Dec. 30, 2025 -
Special counsel concludes 180-day investigation into ex-first lady
Special counsel Min Joong-ki and his team on Sunday wrapped up their 180-day investigation into a host of corruption allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee after placing her under arrest and indicting her on charges including stock manipulation and bribe-taking. Min's team launched in July with a focus on investigating three key suspicions -- Kim's alleged involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme, her alleged acceptance of free opinion polls from a self-proclaimed power b
Dec. 29, 2025 -
Ex-secretary to Unification Church leader quizzed over alleged palm-greasing of politicians
Police on Sunday questioned a former chief secretary to Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja as part of a widening investigation into allegations that the church provided illicit money to politicians across party lines. Jeong Won-ju, who formerly oversaw the church's finances and was reportedly the No. 2 figure in the church's leadership, appeared at the national police agency headquarters in Seoul earlier in the day to face questioning as a suspect, police officials said. The Unification Church
Dec. 28, 2025