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Lee to designate Dec. 3 as day of people's sovereignty to mark overcoming of martial law crisis
President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday he will designate Dec. 3 as a day for people's sovereignty to mark overcoming the failed martial law bid that put the nation into turmoil a year ago, highlighting that it demonstrated South Korea's democratic resilience to the world. In a special national address marking the one-year anniversary of the short-lived martial law imposition, Lee also said that by "defeating an unjust power" through peaceful means, the South Korean people have made themselves fu
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Lee says S. Korea could play mediating role, where possible, in China-Japan dispute
President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that South Korea could play a mediating role, where possible, to ease rising tensions between China and Japan, stressing that taking sides would only escalate the dispute. Lee made the remark during a press conference with foreign media, when asked by a reporter if South Korea was willing to express support for Japan amid the tensions sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Taiwan remarks. "Taking sides would only escalate the conflict. This app
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Defense chief to convene key commanders to discuss rebuilding military 1 year after martial law
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back was set to preside over a meeting of key commanders Wednesday to discuss rebuilding the military into one trusted by the people, a year after a failed martial law bid that involved the former defense minister and a slew of military top brass. The meeting comes a day after Ahn issued an apology over the military's involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law bid on Dec. 3 last year, when troops were deployed to the National Assembly to bloc
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Lee says Dec. 3 will be desginated as 'people's sovereignty day' to commemorate renewed democracy
President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that he would work to designate December 3 as “People’s Sovereignty Day” to commemorate the role of the people in stopping the martial law declared on December 3, 2024, by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Expressing gratitude to South Korean citizens who demonstrated courage and solidarity in the face of a military threat, Lee stated in a televised public address that his government "will designate Dec. 3 as 'People’s Sovereignty Day' to honor the great cour
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Seoul commits to nuclear treaty obligations amid nuclear-powered submarine development plan
The government pledged Tuesday to fully uphold Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations, as it moves forward with a plan to build nuclear-powered submarines and acquire the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. The commitment was made during a high-level policy meeting in Seoul where Lee Chul, director of the International Organizations and Nuclear Affairs Bureau at the foreign ministry, met with Massimo Aparo, head of the Department of Safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Court denies arrest warrant for PPP lawmaker over alleged martial law role
A court on Wednesday denied a warrant to arrest People Power Party Rep. Choo Kyung-ho over allegations that he was involved in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law. The Seoul Central District Court denied the warrant, saying there remains room for dispute regarding the facts of the case and the applicable legal principles. The court also cited insufficient grounds for the need for his arrest, such as the risk he would flee or destroy evidence. The charge centers
Dec. 3, 2025 -
PPP Rep. Choo avoids arrest
Former People Power Party Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho walked free from Seoul Correction Center in Uiwang Gyeonggi Province early Wednesday after the court refused a warrant for his arrest. The three-term lawmaker has been subject to an investigation investigation led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk, which argued he attempted to support former President Yoon Suk Yeol's illegal declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Choo, as the then floor leader of the People Power Party to which Yoon belonged
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Assembly passes budget for 2026 before legal deadline
The National Assembly on Tuesday passed next year's budget of 727.9 trillion won ($498 billion) that calls for more spending to prop up the economy and on national defense, as rival parties reached a last-minute agreement to maintain the government's proposed total spending. The Assembly approved the 2026 budget plan during a plenary session, just minutes before the legal deadline. The breakthrough came earlier in the day when the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Part
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Seoul commits to nuclear treaty obligations amid nuclear-powered submarine development plan
The government pledged Tuesday to fully uphold Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations, as it moves forward with a plan to build nuclear-powered submarines and acquire the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. The commitment was made during a high-level policy meeting in Seoul where Lee Chul, director of the International Organizations and Nuclear Affairs Bureau at the foreign ministry, met with Massimo Aparo, head of the Department of Safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dec. 2, 2025 -
Defense chief apologizes for military's involvement in Yoon's martial law bid 1 year ago
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Tuesday apologized over the military's involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid last December. Ahn issued the apology in a Facebook post just a day before the first anniversary, as the now-ousted Yoon imposed the short-lived martial law on Dec. 3. At that time, the defense ministry was under the helm of his predecessor, Kim Yong-hyun. "I formally apologize on behalf of the military for endangering the people, leaving a deep wound on
Dec. 2, 2025 -
Lee proposes restoring communication channels with N. Korea
President Lee Jae Myung proposed restoring communication channels with North Korea on Tuesday, saying it will serve as a starting point for "peaceful coexistence" between Seoul and Pyongyang. Lee made the remarks during an event to mark the launch of the 22th Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, stressing that unification is a path that must be taken regardless of whether it takes decades or even a millennia. "The historic task given to us is to end hostility and confrontation between the two
Dec. 2, 2025 -
Martial law’s animosity has outlived decree — and now defines political identity
The martial law declaration by ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 3 lasted only six hours, but a year later, the animosity it unleashed lives on. Those six short hours fundamentally rewired South Korean politics, seeping into the very bones of the party system and the identities of partisans. The mass rallies have ebbed, but the mutual hostility that once powered the protests has migrated to the heart of politics and society. Lawmakers and party loyalists are locked into a confrontational mo
Dec. 2, 2025 -
'They really tried to kill me': YouTuber suffering from PTSD after attempted murder
Ko Jin-ho, better known as YouTuber “Sutak,” recounted the night he says he was abducted and nearly killed in an Oct. 26 attack by a used-car dealer who owed him money, speaking publicly for the first time Monday during a livestream on video platform Soop. “As I struggled with them, one man hit my chest and head with a baseball bat inside the car,” Ko said. “It wasn’t something you could do to another human being. He was swinging with the intent to kill.” The assault occurred around 10:40 p.m. i
Dec. 2, 2025 -
How teachers are navigating martial law crisis in classroom
Han Yu-ra, a 32-year-old history teacher in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, vividly remembers the night when then-President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. “As a history teacher, I was taken aback and angry, and thought I must talk about this in class the next day,” said Han, who teaches eighth and ninth graders at Chunghyeon Middle School. She frantically opened her laptop, typing, researching and creating a PowerPoint titled “2024 12.3 Crisis: The Story of Last Night.
Dec. 2, 2025 -
Journalists recall fear, confusion 1 year after martial law debacle
Reporters who were on the front lines of last year’s martial law declaration gathered Monday for a live discussion hosted by the presidential office, recounting in stark detail the fear, chaos and disbelief they experienced within the presidential office in Yongsan-gu and the National Assembly in Yeouido on Dec. 3, 2024. The livestreamed session, titled “Marking One Year Since the Revolution of Light: Remembering and Recording the Day of Martial Law,” brought together correspondents from major n
Dec. 2, 2025