Korea Times Digital Content Reporter
Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
The national anti-corruption agency is facing intense criticism for its mishandling of a crucial investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law late last year, which was quickly thwarted by lawmakers.
As the deadline to execute a warrant to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol fast approaches, it remains uncertain how investigators will proceed with his detention amid strong resistance from his security service and supporters, according to political watchers, Sunday.
President Yoon Suk Yeol is urging his supporters to "fight together to protect this country against anti-state forces," sparking protests in response to an ongoing investigation into his botched martial law order and subsequent impeachment proceedings.
The chief of the anti-corruption agency vowed, Wednesday, to execute a warrant to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol by next Monday, urging the president’s security team not to obstruct the agency’s law enforcement efforts.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok appointed two out of three Constitutional Court justice nominees, Tuesday, as he presided over his first regular Cabinet meeting after assuming the role.
Nearly two-thirds of Koreans prefer a nine-member Constitutional Court to make the final decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment over his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, according to a poll by The Korea Times.
A consultative body between the parliament and the government to stabilize state affairs is unlikely to be launched soon as two major parties are still at odds over narrowing down key stakeholders and agenda, according to political analysts on Sunday.
Acting President Han Duck-soo vetoed six contentious bills on Thursday, as tensions continue to escalate between the opposition-controlled National Assembly and the government over whether an interim leader has the authority to exercise veto power and approve nominations for new Constitutional Court justices.
The leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) held talks Wednesday for the first time since the National Assembly impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol last Saturday over his attempt to impose martial law.
The impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law declaration risks creating a leadership void that raises questions about South Korea's foreign policy direction, especially its efforts to build strong ties with the incoming U.S. administration, according to experts.