-
Hong Joon-pyo mocks top rivals on 'SNL' ahead of June presidential election
South Korean presidential contender Hong Joon-pyo, a senior figure in the conservative People Power Party, has drawn fresh attention with a sharp-tongued, satirical appearance on "SNL Korea," taking direct aim at top rivals Lee Jae-myung and Han Dong-hoon ahead of the country’s critical June 3 election. In Saturday's episode of the comedy sketch show in its seventh season, via streaming platform Coupang Play, the former Daegu mayor appears dressed as a convenience store job applicant. The segmen
April 14, 2025 -
Acting president says to 'fulfill final calling' amid presidential rumors
Acting President Han Duck-soo said Monday he will fulfill his "final calling" by tackling the US tariff crisis, apparently dismissing rumors of a presidential bid in the upcoming June election. Han has emerged as a possible contender in the June 3 presidential election following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law bid in December. Despite no mention of a presidential run from Han, he has appeared in recent public opinion surveys on the most favored presidential cand
April 14, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon arrives at court to attend criminal trial
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at a Seoul court Monday to attend his trial on insurrection charges related to his attempt to impose martial law last December. Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court via the underground parking ahead of the first hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. The former president was removed from office on April 4 after the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment over his Dec. 3 imposition of martial law. (Yonhap)
April 14, 2025 -
PPP begins registration of candidates for presidential primary
The People Power Party on Monday began a two-day registration period for candidates entering the conservative party's primary to select its candidate for the June 3 presidential election. Several prominent figures are expected to participate in the party's primary, including former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, former PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon and PPP lawmakers Ahn Cheol-soo and Na Kyung-won, who have officially announced their bids. Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo plans to officially declare h
April 14, 2025 -
Former DP leader Lee leads presidential election poll
A former leader of the Democratic Party, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, is leading the race for the presidency of South Korea with nearly 49 percent support, a poll showed Monday. South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3 as the Constitutional Court removed former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his failed martial law bid. According to the survey conducted by Realmeter on 1,506 adults aged over 18 from Wednesday to Friday, Lee topped the list with 48.8 percent. Former Labor Minister
April 14, 2025 -
Former four-term lawmaker opts out of conservative party primary
Former four-term conservative lawmaker Yoo Seong-min declared Sunday he would opt out of the presidential primaries with the conservative People Power Party — with which impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol is affiliated — leaving him the option to run for president as an independent candidate or with another political party. Yoo, considered a center-right figure, blasted the conservative party for "refusing to feel remorseful and start anew," even after the party had a second president impe
April 13, 2025 -
Parties gear up for presidential primaries
The ruling and opposition parties are quickly gearing up for presidential primaries to nominate their respective candidates in early May, as with candidacy registrations starting Monday. The conservative People Power Party will register candidates on Monday and Tuesday. They will be narrowed down to four by April 22, with the party's presidential primary to be held on May 3. The liberal Democratic Party of Korea will also start receiving candidacy registrations on Monday, in hopes of an ultimate
April 13, 2025 -
Kim Kyoung-soo enters race championing Roh's Sejong-centered vision
Kim Kyoung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, announced his presidential bid on Sunday in Sejong — the de facto administrative capital of South Korea — in a symbolic gesture, becoming the fourth contender from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Kim stressed the need for political and institutional reforms to prevent the recurrence of presidential overreach, citing disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 last year, which led to h
April 13, 2025 -
Ex-DP leader Lee poised to compete with 3 candidates in presidential primary
The presidential primary of the Democratic Party is shaping up to be a four-way race, with former party leader Lee Jae-myung expected to dominate given his strong grip on the party leadership, experts said Sunday. Last week, Lee officially declared his candidacy for the June 3 presidential election, following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after his martial law declaration. Lee is expected to compete against three candidates in the party primary -- former lawmaker and Interior Mini
April 13, 2025 -
Ex-President Yoon faces criminal trial on insurrection charges Monday
The first criminal trial for former President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled for this week, 10 days after he was removed from office over his short-lived martial law declaration in December, according to court officials Sunday. The Seoul Central District Court is set to open the hearing on Yoon's insurrection charges at 10 a.m. Monday. As the defendant, Yoon must attend the trial. Yoon will be the fifth former president to stand criminal trial. He will be allowed to enter the court via an undergroun
April 13, 2025 -
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon opts out of presidential race
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced Saturday he will not enter South Korea's presidential race, contrary to widespread expectations that he would seek the nation's highest post following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from office. Speaking at a press conference at People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Oh expressed his commitment to continue serving as mayor instead of pursuing the presidency in the June 3 election. "While driving forward is certainly a virtue for any politici
April 12, 2025 -
Conservative heavyweight Na Kyung-won launches presidential bid, slams 'Lee Jae-myung tyranny'
Five-time People Power Party Rep. Na Kyung-won officially entered the presidential race on Friday, joining a crowded field of conservative hopefuls ahead of the June 3 snap election. "I stand here today with a heavy heart, as our country's fate hangs in the balance. We just had the tragedy of having a second president being impeached," Na said during a press conference, referencing the Constitutional Court’s unanimous decision on April 4 to remove former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office. Call
April 11, 2025 -
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo emerges as potential presidential contender
South Korea's political landscape has been stirred by the possibility of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo entering the upcoming presidential election set for June. Speculation intensified after local media reported that Han, who is also acting president, told US President Donald Trump that he was considering a presidential bid during a 28-minute phone call on Tuesday. According to local media, Han reportedly said he was “considering (the matter) due to several demands and the (current) situation,” ad
April 11, 2025 -
Lee Jae-myung paints Korea as 'model democracy' in light of ex-president's ouster
Democratic Party of Korea presidential hopeful Rep. Lee Jae-myung said Friday he would end "insurrection" waged by ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and turn the country into "a model and beacon of hope for democracy in the world." In a press conference laying out his vision for his presidency, Lee said he would put an end to Yoon's "insurrection that is still perpetuating to this day," referring to the former president's botched imposition of martial law on Dec. 3 last year. The former Democratic
April 11, 2025 -
Xi 'seriously' considering visit to S. Korea for APEC summit: Chinese official
Chinese President Xi Jinping is seriously considering a visit to South Korea in conjunction with the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a senior official from China's top legislature said Thursday. Losang Jamcan, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks during a meeting with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik in Seoul. "President Xi places great importance on a potential visit to South Korea in conjunction with t
April 10, 2025