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Special counsel raids home of ex-NIS director in martial law probe
A special counsel team on Wednesday launched a raid on the home of former National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong as part of its investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt to impose martial law. The team led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk was also raiding seven other locations over "destruction of evidence following the insurrection," assistant special counsel Park Ji-young told reporters, referring to the martial law bid in December. The former NIS director is suspe
July 16, 2025 -
Special counsel to question Marine investigator as witness
Special Prosecutor Lee Myeong-hyeon's team looking into the 2023 death of a young Marine said Wednesday it plans to question a former Marine investigator, who led a probe into the death case, as a witness. Col. Park Jung-hun will appear at the special counsel's office in the afternoon to be questioned about the allegations that top military officials and the presidential office intervened in his initial probe of the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died while searching for torrential rain victims
July 16, 2025 -
Arrested ex-President Yoon skips insurrection trial hearing for 1st time
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol will not attend his insurrection trial Thursday following his arrest hours earlier over his failed attempt to impose martial law. Yoon's lawyers submitted a written reason for absence to the Seoul Central District Court shortly before the 10th hearing of the trial was scheduled to begin. The former president is in custody at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, just south of the capital, after the same court issued a warrant early Thursday to arrest him over charg
July 10, 2025 -
Court to hold arrest warrant hearing for ex-President Yoon on Wednesday
A hearing on whether to issue an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law bid will be held later this week, a court said Monday. The Seoul Central District Court said the hearing has been scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Wednesday following special counsel Cho Eun-suk's request for an arrest warrant the previous day. Yoon plans to attend the hearing in person to present his arguments before the court decides on the warrant later that day or early the next day. Cho's team is
July 7, 2025 -
Special counsel teams launch investigations into ex-first lady, Marine death
Two special counsel teams launched their investigations Wednesday into corruption allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee and the alleged cover-up of an incident involving the 2023 death of a Marine. The teams -- each led by special prosecutors Min Joong-ki and Lee Myeong-hyeon -- marked the launch with signboard-unveiling ceremonies at their offices in central and southern Seoul, respectively. "We will conduct all investigations in a manner that isn't excessive or biased," Min sa
July 2, 2025 -
Special counsel questions ex-PM, industry minister in martial law probe
A special prosecutor investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed bid to impose martial law on Wednesday summoned former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, in a widening probe against then Cabinet members on the night of martial law imposition. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk has been checking whether Yoon abused his power or some Cabinet ministers cooperated with the botched martial law bid on Dec. 3 last year, when the ousted president imposed martial law. Bot
July 2, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon to appear for special counsel questioning Saturday: lawyers
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol will appear for a special counsel team's second round of questioning over his martial law bid this weekend, his lawyers said Wednesday. Yoon has accepted special counsel Cho Eun-suk's summons to appear at his office at 9 a.m. Saturday after withdrawing an earlier request to change the time to 10 a.m., the lawyers said. "It appears unlikely he will arrive at 9 a.m. sharp, but even if he is 10 to 20 minutes late, he will appear and testify," the lawyers said in a sta
July 2, 2025 -
Outgoing top prosecutor says criminal justice system should be designed under 'farsighted plan'
Outgoing Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung said Wednesday the criminal justice system should be designed under a "farsighted plan" through careful deliberation with all corners of society. Shim made the remark on his final day in office, apparently underscoring his concern about the new Lee Jae Myung administration's push to overhaul the prosecution with a focus on separating its investigative and indictment powers. "I think the criminal justice system should be designed under a farsighted nation
July 2, 2025 -
Prosecution chief resigns amid overhaul
Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung stepped down Tuesday after nine months in office following Sunday's nomination of a new justice minister and the administration's plans for prosecutorial reform. Expressing concerns about the Lee Jae Myung administration's reform plan, Shim said he has decided to "step down from the heavy responsibility as prosecutor general," in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. "Considering the various situations, I have decided that stepping down from the position now wo
July 1, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon fails to appear for 2nd round of special counsel questioning
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to appear Tuesday for a special counsel's second round of questioning over his martial law bid. Yoon had been asked to appear at Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk's office at 9 a.m. to undergo further questioning following the first round Saturday. But Yoon's lawyers repeatedly requested a postponement, citing his health and a scheduled hearing for his criminal trial on insurrection charges. Cho's team partially accepted the request and postponed the date once
July 1, 2025 -
Special counsel team wraps up questioning of ex-President Yoon; plans to summon him again
A special counsel team wrapped up its questioning of former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday over insurrection charges tied to his Dec. 3 martial law declaration but plans to summon him again for another round of investigation. The questioning of Yoon ended shortly before 10 p.m., and the former president was reviewing his interrogation record before being allowed to return home, the special counsel team said. Yoon appeared for questioning at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office nearly half a da
June 29, 2025 -
Korea lowers cap on student loan interest rates
● Updated law: Special Act on Income Contingent Loan What it does: Lowers the interest rate cap on income-contingent loans Took effect: June 19 Starting on June 19, the interest rate cap on income-contingent loans will be lowered to reduce the burden of repayment for college graduates. Previously, the interest rate was capped at 120 percent of the average yield of five-year state bonds for the three years preceding each semester. This will be reduced to 110 percent. This is the first reduction i
June 25, 2025 -
Ex-defense minister files quasi-appeal against rejection of recusal request
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Wednesday filed a quasi-appeal against a court decision rejecting his earlier request for the recusal of judges overseeing new indictments against him. The quasi-appeal was filed orally by his lawyers during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court held to determine whether to grant a new warrant to arrest Kim over his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid. The court had dismissed the recusal request the previous day. Even if a qua
June 25, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon attends 8th hearing of insurrection trial
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the eighth hearing of his insurrection trial Monday, but was tight-lipped on a new investigation by independent counsels over his failed martial law bid. Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court around 10 a.m. to attend the eight hearing of his insurrection trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through his Dec. 3 imposition of martial law. It was Yoon's first trial after his case was transferred to the special counsel te
June 23, 2025 -
2 Marines,1 civilian accused of killing, injuring dogs with BB guns
Two active-duty Marines and one civilian in their 20s are under investigation for killing one dog and seriously injuring two others with BB guns. The Geoje Police Station said Wednesday that two active-duty soldiers and one civilian — all unnamed males in their 20s — fired hundreds of BB pellets at four dogs that were tied up in a restaurant yard in a small town in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, on June 8. Of the four dogs, one died as a result of the attack, while two sustained serious injur
June 20, 2025