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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.

Special counsel questions ex-PM, other ministers in martial law probe

A special prosecutor investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed bid to impose martial law Wednesday summoned former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and two other ministers, in a widening probe into 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. Han and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun appeared for questioning earlier in the day, but they declined to comment to reporters upon entering the special counsel's office. Cho's team has been looking into allegations that another document on martial law declaration was written shortly after Yoon declared martial law. Han reportedly signed the document drafted by Kang Eui-gu, former secretary at the presidential office, but later requested it to be discarded. The special counsel team later summoned Science and ICT Minister Yoo Sang-im and questioned him over his attendance or absence at Cabinet meetings held around Yoon'

Jul 2, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel questions ex-PM, other ministers in martial law probe

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 statement. "Generally speaking, his plan is not to avoid an appearance but to proactively go and testify." Yoon defied an earlier summons to appear for questioning Tuesday, citing his health and preparations for a separate trial on insurrection charges related to his attempt to impose martial law in December. The special counsel team issued another summons for Saturday, suggesting it would seek a warrant to detain Yoon in the event he failed to comply. Yoon underwent the first round of questioning by the special counsel team last Saturday.

Jul 2, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon to appear for special counsel questioning Saturday: lawyers

Ex-president given 5-day ultimatum to appear for sedition inquiry

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was given a five-day deadline on Tuesday to appear for questioning by 9 a.m. Saturday over sedition allegations tied to his declaration of martial law last year. The investigation team, led by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk, warned it will seek a court warrant to detain Yoon if he once again fails to comply. “If he fails to appear even on the fifth, then since all the (legal) requirements will have been met, I think the court will issue a warrant,” Park Ji-young, a deputy to the special counsel, said during a press briefing. “The fifth is our final notice to appear.” This ultimatum follows Yoon’s refusal to attend questioning on Tuesday, citing health issues, as well as a scheduled court hearing Thursday for his criminal trial on insurrection charges. Yoon, who was impeached and removed from office after declaring martial law in December 2024, had previously indicated through his lawyers that Saturday was the earliest possible date for his appearance. If he shows up, it will mark his second interrogation by the team, following an initial session

Jul 1, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Ex-president given 5-day ultimatum to appear for sedition inquiry

Court to hold preparatory hearing for Lee Jae Myung's embezzlement trial as planned

The fourth preparatory hearing for President Lee Jae Myung's trial on charges of misusing public funds will be held as planned Tuesday, the district court said. The Suwon District Court said the hearing will be held at 4:30 p.m. regardless of whether the bench decides to proceed with the main trial. There was speculation the court could postpone the session as the Constitution exempts a sitting president from criminal indictment except in cases of treason or insurrection. Lee was elected president last month. The court explained that the Criminal Procedure Code separates the preparatory proceedings from the main proceedings, making it clear that a suspension of the main trial does not necessitate a suspension of the preparatory stage. Lee was indicted in November on charges of embezzling 106.5 million won ($77,800) from the Gyeonggi provincial government while serving as governor from 2018 to 2021 in order to pay for food and other goods. Two of his other trials — one on charges of violating election laws and the other on charges of corruption related to a massive development project --

Jul 1, 2025By Yonhap
Court to hold preparatory hearing for Lee Jae Myung's embezzlement trial as planned

Woman found naked in broad daylight arrested for allegedly killing mother

A woman in her 50s was arrested on suspicion of killing her elderly mother after she was found wandering naked in broad daylight in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, police said Sunday. According to the Seongnam Sujeong Police Station, the unidentified woman was taken into custody on Monday on charges of parricide. She is accused of fatally stabbing her mother, a woman in her 80s, multiple times inside their home in Sujeong District. Police said they received a report at 2:28 p.m. Sunday that a naked woman was walking through the streets. Officers located her and were helping her return home when they discovered her mother’s body in one of the rooms. The woman was arrested at the scene. She confessed to the killing, saying that she committed the act because her mother had made life difficult for her, according to the police. A police official said the victim appeared to have died recently, though the exact time of death had yet to be determined. “We have not yet confirmed whether the suspect has any mental illness,” the official said. “She has been speaking incoherently about the motive

Jul 1, 2025By Hankookilbo
Woman found naked in broad daylight arrested for allegedly killing mother

Special counsel rejects ex-President Yoon's request to postpone martial law questioning

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol asked again Monday that a special counsel's second round of questioning over his martial law bid be postponed to later in the week, but prosecutors rejected his request. Yoon asked the team of Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk to postpone the session from Tuesday to Thursday or later and to consult with his lawyers prior to deciding on the date, the lawyers said in a notice to the press. An official with the special counsel said later that Yoon's request will not be accepted, and that the team would immediately reschedule the date and time for questioning this week if Yoon fails to appear on Tuesday as requested. The former president appeared at Cho's office on Saturday and underwent the first round of questioning by the special counsel over charges related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December. The special counsel's team then ordered a second appearance on Monday, but Yoon's lawyers requested it be postponed to Thursday or later, citing his health and a scheduled hearing for his criminal trial on insurrection charges. Partially accepting the

Jun 30, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel rejects ex-President Yoon's request to postpone martial law questioning

Detention of 2 military commanders extended over alleged role in martial law bid

A military court on Monday issued fresh warrants to formally extend the detention of two commanders over their alleged roles in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition. The military court in central Seoul issued the warrants that will effectively extend the detention of Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung, former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, and Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho, former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, according to officials. The court cited the possibility of the two officers destroying evidence for issuing the new warrants. Prosecutors had initially requested for the bail of Yeo and Moon, who were scheduled to be discharged upon the expiration of their statutory six-month detention. But they withdrew the request after they were additionally indicted on charges of perjury and violation of military secrets earlier this month.

Jun 30, 2025By Yonhap
Detention of 2 military commanders extended over alleged role in martial law bid

2 injured in stabbing attack in Seoul’s Sillim area; suspect jumps to death

A man in his 30s died by suicide after stabbing two strangers at a villa in Seoul’s Sillim-dong neighborhood on Sunday night. According to Gwanak Police Station on Monday, the incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. when the suspect, identified only as A, rang the doorbell of a villa in Gwanak District. When two residents, a man in his 20s and another in his 30s, opened the door, the man allegedly attacked them with a knife. One victim sustained a shoulder injury, while the other was stabbed in the ankle. Both were taken to a hospital and are not in life-threatening condition. Authorities said the suspect and the victims had no prior relationship. Shortly after the assault, the man jumped from a nearby location. He was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating the motive behind the attack and the circumstances leading to the suspect's death. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

Jun 30, 2025By Hankookilbo
2 injured in stabbing attack in Seoul’s Sillim area; suspect jumps to death

Special counsel probing Marine's death to summon ex-commander for questioning this week

A special counsel team investigating allegations that high-ranking officials interfered with a probe into the tragic death of a Marine in 2023 on Monday demanded a former commander appear for questioning this week, officials said. The team notified Lim Seong-geun, former commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division, to appear Wednesday — the day of the official launch of the special probe. Special Prosecutor Lee Myeong-hyeon and his team are seeking to look into various allegations, including negligence, over the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was swept away in a swollen stream during a search and rescue mission for victims of downpours in July 2023. The investigation into the Marine's death centers on suspicions that military and government officials, including former President Yoon Suk Yeol, tried to cover up the truth behind Chae's death. Lim, who was the commander of the unit Chae belonged to, told reporters that he would comply with the summons. President Lee Jae Myung appointed Special Prosecutor Lee to the role on June 13.

Jun 30, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel probing Marine's death to summon ex-commander for questioning this week

Independent counsel to launch probes into ex-first lady, Marine death this week

The independent counsel tasked with investigating corruption allegations linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee and the tragic death of a Marine will officially launch their investigations this week, their teams said Monday. Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, who is investigating the first lady's case, will hold a signboard-hanging ceremony at his team's office, located in the KT Gwanghwamun WEST building in central Seoul, on Wednesday. Special Prosecutor Lee Myeong-hyeon, who is handling the case of the Marine's death, will also celebrate the opening of his team's office at the Hanssem building in Seoul's Seocho district the same day. The probes will begin 20 days after President Lee Jae Myung appointed Min, Lee and another special counsel tasked with investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition. The independent counsel have since selected assistant special prosecutors and secured relevant investigation materials. The investigation into the former first lady, Yoon's wife, centers on 16 allegations, including her alleged involvement in a stock price ma

Jun 30, 2025By Yonhap
Independent counsel to launch probes into ex-first lady, Marine death this week
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