Allies accelerate OPCON transition with 2nd-phase test next year

South Korea and the United States will move ahead next year with the second-phase assessment of Seoul’s readiness to take over wartime operational control, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Friday. The allies set out their agreement in the joint communique from the 57th Security Consultative Meeting, held in Seoul on Nov. 4 during US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to South Korea. Although the SCM communique is typically released immediately after the meeting, its publication was delayed

Nov. 14, 2025

Seoul to raise defense spending as allies map out alliance modernization

South Korea will increase its defense spending and provide more financial support for US soldiers stationed here, while working toward regaining wartime operational control from the US, according to a fact sheet on President Lee Jae Myung’s summit with US President Donald Trump in Gyeongju last month. The document, unveiled Friday, comes after months of speculation that Seoul and Washington were preparing to outline elements of a broader plan to modernize the 72-year-old South Korea-US alliance.

Nov. 14, 2025

Acting chief likely to address allegations of Justice Ministry pressure

Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok, who offered to resign amid growing objections to the prosecution's decision not to appeal a ruling in the Daejang-dong development corruption case linked to the president, is expected to address whether his decision was influenced by the Justice Ministry. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said Noh will attend a closed-door retirement ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Friday, during which he has indicated he will explain his stance on the decision. The announcement came

Nov. 13, 2025

Acting prosecutor general offers to resign amid Daejang-dong scandal backlash

Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok offered to resign Wednesday amid mounting unrest within the prosecution over last week's decision not to appeal a court ruling in a high-profile land development corruption case linked to the president. The decision sparked an unprecedented backlash from prosecutors nationwide, who accused the Justice Ministry of pressuring the prosecution not to appeal. The main opposition party also raised suspicion that the presidential office interfered in the decision.

Nov. 12, 2025

Yoon indicted over Pyongyang drone operation

South Korea’s special counsel on Monday indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol and two of his aides on charges of “benefiting the enemy,” accusing them of ordering unauthorized drone operations over Pyongyang in October 2024 to create grounds for declaring martial law. The operation, prosecutors said, heightened inter-Korean tensions and undermined national security. The investigation team, led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, said that Yoon directed the drone missions to fabricate a pretext

Nov. 10, 2025

Lee’s approval rating rises for 2nd week after APEC: poll

President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating rose for a second consecutive week to 56.7 percent following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit held Oct. 31-Nov. 1, according to a survey released Monday. The poll, conducted by local pollster Realmeter from Nov. 3-7, showed Lee’s rating climbed 3.7 percentage points to 56.7 percent. The survey was conducted among 2,528 respondents aged 18 and older nationwide. Negative assessments of Lee stood at 38.7 percent, down 4.6 percentage points from

Nov. 10, 2025

DP unveils reform draft to add 12 more Supreme Court justices 민주당, 대법관 12명 추가 임명 위한 개혁안 발표

South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Monday unveiled its first draft of a judiciary reform plan, proposing to increase the number of Supreme Court justices from 14 to 26. If enacted, the reform would allow President Lee Jae Myung to appoint a majority of the bench by the end of his term. 한국의 집권 여당인 더불어민주당은 월요일 대법관 수를 14명에서 26명으로 늘리는 사법 개혁안의 첫 초안을 공개했다. 이 개혁안이 시행되면 이재명 대통령은 임기 말까지 재판관 과반수를 임명할 수 있게 된다. According to the party, the new system is intended to take effect one year after e

Nov. 10, 2025

Nuclear sub being built in Korea has been discussed: official

South Korea’s presidential office said Friday that it discussed with Washington plans for nuclear-powered submarines to be built domestically — including the hull and the reactor — while enriched uranium would be procured from the US. This follows reports suggesting the vessels could be constructed in US shipyards. An Oct. 29 social media post by US President Donald Trump said he had given South Korea approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine at a Philadelphia shipyard run by South Korea's H

Nov. 7, 2025

Seoul, Asian partners launch new council to advance regional legal cooperation

South Korea’s Ministry of Government Legislation on Friday launched the Council of Asian Legislative Institutions — a new multilateral platform established with Mongolia, Thailand and Uzbekistan to foster legal cooperation and joint legislative development across Asia. The launch ceremony, held in Seoul, was attended by officials from South Korea and abroad, including Pakorn Nillprapunt, secretary-general of the Thai Cabinet Secretariat, and Ikramov Muzraf, vice minister of justice of Uzbekistan

Nov. 7, 2025

Rain to blanket South Korea over weekend

Most parts of South Korea are expected to see cloudy skies and intermittent rain over the weekend, with mild daytime temperatures, the Korea Meteorological Administration said Friday. According to the KMA, light rain will begin late Friday along the coast of Gangwon Province. On Saturday, the showers will move south, reaching Jeju Island in the late afternoon and extending to the southern coast of South Jeolla Province. By evening, rain is forecast to fall across South Chungcheong Province, the

Nov. 7, 2025