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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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. A verdict is set to be delivered at the Seoul Central District Court at 2 p.m. The session will be televised live after the court accepted broadcasters' request. Yoon is accused of ordering the Presidential Security Service to block investigators' execution of a warrant to detain him in January last year, violating the rights of nine Cabinet members who were not called to a meeting to review his martial law plan, and drafting and later destroying a revised proclamation after the martial law decree was lifted. In addition, the former president has been charged with ordering the distribution of pr

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon set to receive 1st verdict on charges stemming from martial law attempt

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 for Jan. 30. The court will consider whether to add more insurrection divisions after monitoring the activities of the first two. Though the related bill calls for appointing three veteran judges of equal position to each new trial division, a decision was not reached Thursday on the specific composition. An additional meeting has been scheduled for Jan. 29 for further discussions on the exact formation of the benches. Two trial divisions will also be installed at the Seoul Central District Court to handle similar cases. The first trial ruling on Yoon's insurrection case stemming from his 2024 declara

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul High Court to install 2 insurrection divisions next month

Joint prosecution-police team steps up probe into Unification Church's alleged bribery

A joint prosecution-police investigation team is intensifying its probe into bribery allegations involving the Unification Church and politicians, questioning an imprisoned former church official on Thursday after a raid on the church headquarters earlier this week. The joint team, which was launched on Jan. 6 to handle suspicions of collusion between politics and religion, grilled former Unification Church official Yun Young-ho at the Seoul Detention Center on Thursday morning. Yun is suspected of delivering tens of millions of won and luxury gifts to former Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo, former Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Jong-seong and former United Future Party lawmaker Kim Gyu-hwan from 2018 to 2020. Yun had denied the suspicions or kept mum before admitting to giving money and gifts to the politicians during questioning by police on Jan. 5. The joint investigation team reportedly questioned Yun about the circumstances surrounding his change of testimony during their previous meeting at the same detention center on Monday. The team then conducted a search and seizure operation targe

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
Joint prosecution-police team steps up probe into Unification Church's alleged bribery

Ex-President Yoon to receive 1st court sentence this week over obstruction of justice, other charges

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol will receive his first court verdict this week over obstruction of justice and other charges related to his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024, officials said Thursday, days after a special counsel team demanded the death penalty for him on insurrection charges. The Seoul Central District Court will hold the sentencing hearing of Yoon's trial on special obstruction of public duty and other charges in connection to his failed martial law bid at 2 p.m. Friday. The court approved live broadcasts of the hearing apparently in consideration of the public's interest in the case. It marks Yoon's first sentencing of the eight cases he is standing trial on, including over charges he led an insurrection through his Dec. 3 martial law declaration in 2024. Friday's sentencing centers on charges Yoon blocked investigators from detaining him in January last year, violated the rights of nine Cabinet members who were not called to a meeting to review his martial law plan, and drafted and destroyed a revised proclamation after the decree was lifted. Last m

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon to receive 1st court sentence this week over obstruction of justice, other charges

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 of Korea (DPK), ahead of the local elections in 2022 allegedly in exchange for her councilorship nomination. "I am truly sorry for causing concern to the public," she told reporters before entering the office without responding to questions about the bribery allegations. Kang, who recently quit the DPK after the allegations surfaced, has said that she belatedly learned of her aide's acceptance of the cash and claimed to have instructed for its return. Kim, however, has reportedly claimed in a statement submitted to police that she personally gave the cash to Kang at a cafe in the lead-up to the elections.

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul city councilor appears before police again over bribery allegations

Past knife attack on Lee likely to be designated as terror case by gov't

A past knife attack on President Lee Jae Myung in 2024, when he was leader of the then main opposition party, is expected to be formally designated as a terror incident, according to government sources Wednesday. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the government will convene a meeting of the National Counterterrorism Committee next Tuesday to deliberate and decide whether to formally classify the attack as an act of terrorism. Lee was stabbed in the neck by a 67-year-old man during a visit to the southeastern city of Busan on Jan. 2, 2024. He was initially treated at Pusan National University Hospital before undergoing surgery and hospitalization at Seoul National University Hospital. The PMO said the decision to convene the meeting was made after comprehensively reviewing the results of a restarted joint counter-terrorism investigation. According to a PMO official, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has tentatively concluded, based on opinions from relevant agencies and legal interpretations, that the incident constitutes terrorism. The planned meeting comes amid allegations that t

Jan 14, 2026By Yonhap
Past knife attack on Lee likely to be designated as terror case by gov't

Police raid DPK lawmaker over bribery and corruption allegations

Police on Wednesday raided the home and offices of Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as part of an investigation into allegations of bribery and other wrongdoings. Investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency began a search and seizure operation targeting Kim in the early morning at six locations, including his home and National Assembly office, Seoul's Dongjak Ward Council, and the home and office of a Dongjak council member. Kim is suspected of receiving illegal political funds worth 30 million won ($20,320) from two members of the Dongjak Ward Council in 2020 and returning the money three to five months later. The lawmaker also faces other corruption allegations, including his suspected acceptance of a high-priced accommodation voucher from Korean Air, his wife's misuse of the Dongjak Ward Council's credit card, interventions in his sons' university transfer and employment, and acceptance of expensive dinner hospitality from Coupang. He resigned as the DPK's floor leader late last month. The police were reportedly seeking to secure computer dat

Jan 14, 2026By Yonhap
Police raid DPK lawmaker over bribery and corruption allegations

Conservative pastor arrested over courthouse riot

Jeon Kwang-hoon, a conservative activist pastor, was arrested Tuesday over his alleged involvement in last year's courthouse riot committed by supporters of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Seoul Western District Court issued the arrest warrant, citing the risk of him destroying evidence and fleeing following an arraignment hearing earlier in the day. Jeon stands accused of being behind pro-Yoon protesters' violence at the same court on Jan. 19 last year, following the court's decision to extend Yoon's detention over his martial law declaration in December 2024. The pastor at Seoul's Sarang Jeil Church, who is known for leading numerous rallies in support of Yoon after the martial law, reportedly urged the rally participants to exercise their right of resistance. As of last month, a total of 141 people had been indicted for their involvement in the riot. Appearing for the court hearing, Jeon again denied all charges. "A right-wing president has never picked a fight or made an accusation against me. But after a left-wing president took office, they are nervously trying to arrest me," he

Jan 13, 2026By Yonhap
Conservative pastor arrested over courthouse riot

Pastor attends arrest warrant hearing over courthouse riot

Jeon Kwang-hoon, a conservative activist pastor, appeared at a Seoul court Tuesday to attend a hearing on his potential arrest over his alleged involvement in last year's courthouse riot committed by supporters of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Jeon is accused of being behind pro-Yoon protesters' violence at the Seoul Western District Court on Jan. 19 last year, following the court's decision to extend Yoon's detention over his martial law declaration in December 2024. The pastor at Seoul's Sarang Jeil Church, who is known for leading numerous rallies in support of Yoon after the martial law, reportedly urged the rally participants to exercise their right of resistance. As of last month, a total of 141 people had been indicted for their involvement in the riot. Jeon again denied all charges while arriving at the same court shortly before 10 a.m. "A right-wing president has never picked a fight or made an accusation against me. But after a left-wing president took office, they are nervously trying to arrest me," he told reporters in front of the court. "I suspect (the police) applied for

Jan 13, 2026By Yonhap
Pastor attends arrest warrant hearing over courthouse riot

NongHyup chairman issues apology over lax management allegations

The head of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, also known as NongHyup, issued a public apology Tuesday over recent allegations of lax management. "I take full responsibility and offer my sincere apologies for failing to live up to the expectations of the public and farmers by causing concerns," NongHyup Chairman Kang Ho-dong said, adding he will step down from his posts as head of the Farmers Newspaper and the NongHyup Foundation. Kang will continue to serve as the chair of NongHyup. Kang's apology came a few days after the agriculture ministry announced the outcome of a special audit that revealed Kang had paid lodging expenses exceeding the allowed limit for overseas business trips and used funds to provide special allowances to executives despite the federation operating in a crisis management mode last year due to its financial weakness. Kang was also found to have received excessive amounts of salary by doubling as the head of the Farmers Newspaper, which he claimed was a customary practice. Kang is currently under police investigation over allegations of receiving br

Jan 13, 2026By Yonhap
NongHyup chairman issues apology over lax management allegations
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