Number of immigrants in S. Korea hits record 1.56 million in 2024

The number of immigrants in South Korea, which includes foreign nationals residing here as well as naturalized citizens, reached a record high of over 1.56 million in 2024, according to government data released Tuesday. Similarly, the number of employed foreign nationals also hit an all-time high at 1.01 million. The number of those having resided in South Korea for at least 91 days, aged 15 and above, reached about 1,561,000 as of May, compared to 1.48 million tallied a year earlier, according

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Yoon impeachment trial’s presiding justice under spotlight

With South Korea’s Constitutional Court prioritizing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment proceedings, concerns surfaced over the role and potential influence of Justice Jeong Hyeong-sik, the chief justice in Yoon’s trial. Jeong, 63, was directly appointed by Yoon in December last year for a six-year term. Though the president seems to have no direct ties with the justice, they are connected through Park Sun-young, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Park was app

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

Constitutional Court to hold Yoon’s first preparatory hearing on Dec. 27

The Constitutional Court of Korea announced Monday that it would prioritize President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial, setting the first preparatory hearing for Dec. 27 at 2 p.m. Lee Jin, director general for the Constitutional Court's Public Information Office, said in a press briefing Monday that justices Lee Mi-sun and Jeong Hyung-sik have been chosen as the two lead justices to oversee the evidence examination and arguments. The chief justice, who leads the ruling by drafting th

Social AffairsDec. 16, 2024

Safe, orderly protests highlight Korea's mature democracy

  President Yoon Suk Yeol declaring martial law on Dec. 3 sparked demonstrations across the nation attended by tens of thousands of people. Despite the high turnout, however, the rallies remained peaceful, with no reports of violence or tension. The crowds were remarkably diverse, ranging from teenagers and young adults to families with young children and pet owners with their dogs. Participants interviewed by The Korea Herald consistently reported feeling no concerns about safety and witne

PoliticsDec. 15, 2024

Ball now in Constitutional Court for Yoon's impeachment

  Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae said Saturday that the Constitutional Court will "conduct a swift and fair trial" after a motion for the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol was passed by the National Assembly the same day. A meeting of the court's justices will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, he said. Attention now turns to the proceedings, which could face difficulties in part because it is short of a full complement of justices. Only six of its nine positions are currently filled.

PoliticsDec. 14, 2024

The short-lived rise and fall of Yoon Suk Yeol

When Yoon Suk Yeol, 63, won South Korea's top job in 2022, some anticipated that he would heed the will of the people, tackle class inequality and build a country that could make everyone proud, as he vowed in his victory speech. Yet, throughout the years, the conservative leader has fallen short. Despite diplomatic initiatives that improved relations with Japan and the US, and bold moves to address the nation's shortage of doctors in key areas, he couldn't stop his approval ratings from sliding

PoliticsDec. 14, 2024

Hours before second impeachment vote, Seoul streets fill with rival protests

Hours before a critical impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol, tens of thousands of protesters poured into Seoul's streets Saturday, transforming the capital into a vivid display of a nation divided. By early afternoon, an estimated 85,000 people had converged on Yeouido, home to the National Assembly, according to police estimates. The crowd, demanding Yoon's removal from office, filled main thoroughfares and narrow alleyways, moving in a slow human tide toward the parliame

Social AffairsDec. 14, 2024

Ruling party likely to take part in impeachment vote

The ruling People Power Party is likely to take part in the vote on the motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol at 4 p.m. that day. The party line will remain likely against the motion, a ruling party lawmaker told reporters around noon. More news to follow.

PoliticsDec. 14, 2024

[From the Scene] College students hold joint rally to urge Yoon’s impeachment

On a cold Friday evening, university students filled the streets of Sinchon in Seodaemun-gu, western Seoul, urging for the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and the severe punishment of those involved in his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. At around 6 p.m., the streets of Yonseiro in Sinchon, generally filled with busking performances by young performers at this hour, began to swell with students instead, who held signs reading “Yoon Suk Yeol, step down immediately&rdq

Social AffairsDec. 13, 2024

Police chiefs face pretrial hearing over rebellion, insurrection allegations

Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief Kim Bong-sik were to face pretrial hearings Friday afternoon for alleged violations of the Constitution over allegations of rebellion and insurrection. According to the Seoul Central District Court, the pretrial hearings for the two police chiefs were to be held at 3 p.m., a day after police filed arrest warrants for both Cho and Kim for violations of the Criminal Act concerning insurrection-related d

Social AffairsDec. 13, 2024

What motivated martial law? Yoon's own words

President Yoon Suk Yeol, facing an imminent second impeachment vote and prosecution on charges of insurrection, defended his controversial Dec. 3 martial law declaration in a nationally televised speech Thursday. Yoon said the declaration was intended to fail, portraying it as a symbolic move to expose what he called a “state of governmental paralysis” caused by the opposition. The president's justification appears to be part of an effort to counter impeachment proceedings and d

Social AffairsDec. 12, 2024

Foreign spies and compromised election system: Yoon seeks to rally the right

Chinese spies, a compromised election system, and monstrous opposition parties intent on destroying the nation -- these themes form the lens through which President Yoon Suk Yeol views South Korea's problems, or at least the ones he portrayed in his national address Thursday morning. Political observers and opposition politicians said it was a tactic designed to rally support and appeal to ultraright voters. During his 29-minute address, Yoon declared that he would to “fight till the

PoliticsDec. 12, 2024

[Newsmaker] Ex-intel commander appears key to alleged martial law plan

Three-star Army general Yeo In-hyung, former chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, is facing growing scrutiny over allegations he played a key role in facilitating the recent martial law declaration. Yeo has denied the accusations, claiming the DCC was unaware of the plans. However, emerging testimony and evidence cast doubt on Yeo’s claims, raising questions about his involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law declaration. Contradicting stories I

PoliticsDec. 11, 2024

Will ruling party lawmakers change course?

The ruling People Power Party may shift its stance on its group boycott and allow a free vote, as some young conservative politicians signal their intent to participate in the second impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday. After the previous scrapped impeachment vote on Dec. 7, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung announced the following day that he would continue to hold Yoon accountable for insurrection following his martial law decree

PoliticsDec. 10, 2024

Power struggle intensifies among investigative bodies over Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law case

  The investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial December 3 martial law declaration has descended into a jurisdictional tug-of-war among South Korea’s prosecutorial, police and anti-corruption agencies, raising concerns about the investigation's clarity and efficiency. At the heart of the dispute is the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which rejected a request from the prosecutor’s office to hand over all cases related to the mart

PoliticsDec. 9, 2024

Bumpy road ahead for Korean economy

As the fate of embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol is likely to stay in limbo for longer than expected, concerns are mounting over pending economic measures that need to be addressed to rev up the country’s slowing growth. After a failed parliamentary vote on his impeachment Saturday, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, stressed Sunday that he would push for the president’s resignation. The main opposition Democratic Party called for Yoon to immediately step down, t

EconomyDec. 8, 2024

[From the Scene] How Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment bill failed

The National Assembly vote on whether to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol was left open for hours on Saturday, as 300 members of the parliament gathered for a rare weekend plenary session. The bill to impeach Yoon was put to vote four days after South Korea watched in shock as armed soldiers broke into the Assembly grounds late Tuesday, about an hour after the president declared martial law. In order to pass, the Democratic Party of Korea-led bill needed just eight votes from the ruling People Po

PoliticsDec. 7, 2024