What were Lee Jae-myung's 'lies'?

South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the former chair of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea and front-runner for the presidency, made two knowingly false statements during the 2022 election campaign — which the court said must be judged by a higher standard given his candidacy. The court concluded that Lee’s denial of personal ties with the late Kim Moon-ki, a key figure in the Seongnam land development scandal, amounted to the offense of “publicly announcing

May 2, 2025

Stripped of immunity, Yoon Suk Yeol now faces 7 criminal offenses

All of South Korea’s law enforcement agencies are now investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol, with seven criminal cases underway following the loss of his presidential immunity after his April 4 ouster. While controversies surrounding Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, drew attention during his presidency, investigations had stalled due to Article 84 of the Constitution, which shields sitting presidents from prosecution except for insurrection or treason. Yoon also vetoed multiple bills call

May 2, 2025

Supreme Court’s verdict sours Lee Jae-myung’s presidential bid

The Supreme Court of Korea overturned the lower court’s decision to acquit former Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung on two charges of election law violations, sending the case back to the Seoul High Court. The top court’s 10-2 ruling Thursday reversed the Seoul High Court's verdict from late March, which found the evidence presented against Lee regarding false statements "did not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt." Chief Justice Jo Hee-de said in the televised proceed

May 1, 2025

Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol indicted for abuse of power

The prosecution investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3, 2024 declaration of martial law on Thursday indicted Yoon for abuse of power. Yoon will face a criminal court trial for his alleged obstruction of the exercise of rights through the abuse of power, constituting a violation of Article 123 of the Criminal Act, when he declared martial law nearly five months ago, according to the prosecution’s special investigation team led by Park Se-hyun, chief prosecutor at the Seoul High Pro

May 1, 2025

Fast-tracked Lee Jae-myung verdict stirs talk of political timing

As the Supreme Court of Korea decided to deliver its verdict on Lee Jae-myung’s election law violation case on Thursday, just nine days after it first reviewed the case on April 22, speculation is growing over the reason for the top court’s earlier-than-expected ruling date. While many election law violation cases that are appealed to the Supreme Court take more than three months to process, Lee’s case has garnered both public and legal analysts’ attention because the court conducted two hearing

April 30, 2025

Yoon Suk Yeol's apartment raided over wife's alleged gifts

Prosecutors carried out a search and seizure of the private residence of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee on Thursday, as part of an investigation into alleged corruption via ties between the former presidential couple and a shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, also known as Geon Jin. Wednesday’s raid by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office is seen as an effort to secure evidence related to Jeon’s alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, and his alleged

April 30, 2025

Supreme Court to deliver final verdict on Lee Jae-myung Thursday 3 p.m.

The Supreme Court of Korea announced Tuesday that it will deliver its verdict on Lee Jae-myung’s election law violation case Thursday at 3 p.m. The Democratic Party of Korea presidential contender's ruling is set to come 10 days before the official presidential candidate registration deadline on May 11, which is earlier than many had anticipated. Lee’s case, which was initially assigned to a panel of four justices, was referred to the grand bench on April 22. Chief Justice Jo Hee-de had decided

April 29, 2025

Myung Tae-kyun investigated in election interference scandal

Myung Tae-kyun, accused of fabricating polls to influence the candidacies of conservative political figures, was summoned for questioning Tuesday morning, in a widening investigation into his alleged corrupt ties with the former presidential couple and current Seoul mayor. The pollster's summons to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office suggests the investigation into his alleged ties with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and former first lady Kim Keon Hee is approa

April 29, 2025

Seoul subway fares to increase to 1,550 won starting June 28

The base fare for a subway ride in the Seoul area with a transportation card is scheduled to increase by 150 won ($0.10) to 1,550 won starting June 28, meaning a round-trip fare will exceed 3,000 won for the first time. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday that the hike was confirmed by the local governments of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, and Korea Railroad Corp. on April 24. The subway fee adjustment marks the first fare hike in 18 months since the city increased the ba

April 29, 2025

1,200 residents evacuated from Daegu wildfire

After South Korea battled the worst wildfire in its history in March, another wildfire in the southeastern city of Daegu spread fast Monday, forcing some 1,200 residents to evacuate. Authorities stated that the fire broke out at approximately 2 p.m. in Hamjisan, a mountain in the city’s central region. While the cause of the fire is still yet to be identified, the Daegu city government said the fire is suspected to have started in a restricted mountain access area. Investigations of the exact ca

April 28, 2025