Special counsel raids military prosecution's office in widening Marine death probe

A special counsel team on Friday raided the offices of the military prosecution as part of a widening investigation of alleged government interference in a 2023 military probe into the tragic death of a young Marine. The team led by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon conducted the search and seizure at the defense ministry's compound in central Seoul over allegations that military prosecutors illegally intervened in the transfer of the 2023 case to the police. The special counsel investigation cen

Aug. 29, 2025

Yoon absent from his insurrection trial for 6th consecutive time

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was absent from his insurrection trial for the sixth consecutive time Thursday, leading the court to proceed without him. Yoon has refused to appear for his trial at the Seoul Central District Court since his second arrest on July 10, citing health issues. The bench opened Thursday's hearing by noting the defendant was absent again and that the detention center where Yoon is jailed had sent a note explaining the difficulty of bringing him by force. Under the Crimin

Aug. 28, 2025

Ex-first lady appears for 5th round of questioning ahead of indictment

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee appeared before a special counsel team Thursday to undergo a fifth round of questioning over corruption allegations ahead of her planned indictment later this week. Kim, the wife of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was brought to special counsel Min Joong-ki's office in central Seoul in a prison van from a detention center where she has been held since Aug. 13. The former first lady faces allegations of being involved in stock manipulation schemes, meddling i

Aug. 28, 2025

Court set to hold arrest warrant hearing for ex-PM Han

A court is set to hold a hearing Wednesday on whether to issue a warrant to arrest former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched imposition of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court will begin the hearing at 1:30 p.m. after special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team requested the warrant on charges of abetting the ringleader of an insurrection, falsifying and destroying official documents, perjury and other offenses. Should the court issue th

Aug. 27, 2025

Special counsel summons ex-PPP floor leader in bribery probe

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team investigating suspicions surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee said Tuesday it has summoned Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party as a suspect for questioning this week about bribery allegations. Responding to the team's announcement, Kweon said on Facebook that he will appear at the special counsel office at 10 a.m. Wednesday. "I'm innocent of all charges raised by the special counsel side. That's why I'm confident," he said, ac

Aug. 26, 2025

Special counsel raids Justice Ministry, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office

A special counsel team investigating suspicions of insurrection surrounding the failed martial law declaration of Dec. 3 carried out search-and-seizure operations on Monday at the Justice Ministry, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and several other locations. The raids, led by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk, targeted former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung. Park faces allegations of abetting and failing to prevent former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to

Aug. 25, 2025

Promoting organ donor registration

● Updated law: Organs Transplant Act What it does: Improves the registration process for organ donors Took effect: Aug. 21 Starting Aug. 21, anyone applying for identification documents, including resident registration cards, passports, driver’s licenses and seafarer’s identity certificates, will be provided with information on how to register as an organ donor. The same process applies to renewals and reissuances. The new law aims to expand awareness and participation in organ donor registratio

Aug. 24, 2025

Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min indicted over alleged role in Yoon's martial law

Former Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min has been indicted on charges of colluding in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law, the special counsel’s office announced Tuesday. Lee, under arrest since Aug. 1, is the second member of Yoon's Cabinet to face indictment over the December 2024 martial law crisis, following then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Lee is accused of participating in what prosecutors call an attempted insurrection, abusing his authority

Aug. 19, 2025

Court proceeds with martial law hearing without ex-President Yoon over his refusal to attend

A Seoul court on Monday proceeded with a hearing of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law case in his absence, as he has refused to attend any of his court sessions since being detained last month. The Seoul Central District Court's bench handling Yoon's case said Monday's hearing on insurrection and abuse of power charges against him would proceed without him, citing his "refusal to attend." Since being rearrested and detained nearly a month ago, Yoon has refused to attend all five court

Aug. 18, 2025

Special counsel weighs bribery charges against ex-first lady Kim over luxury necklace

Special prosecutors investigating corruption allegations against former first lady Kim Keon Hee were deliberating over the charges to press against her after securing a luxury necklace she allegedly accepted in exchange for a personnel appointment favor, legal sources said Sunday. Last week, special counsel Min Joong-ki's team said Seohee Construction officials submitted the Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and confessed to gifting the item to Kim right after her husband, former President Yoon Suk Ye

Aug. 17, 2025

Court to hold arrest warrant hearing for ex-first lady's 'butler'

A Seoul court was set to decide Friday whether to issue an arrest warrant for an associate of former first lady Kim Keon Hee on charges of embezzlement. The Seoul Central District Court will convene a hearing at 2 p.m. to review whether to formally arrest Kim Ye-seong, known as the "butler" of the former first lady's family, on charges of embezzling 3.38 billion won ($2.43 million) from his company. A special counsel team requested the arrest warrant Thursday, two days after he was detained by i

Aug. 15, 2025

Ex-top security adviser Cho appears for questioning for 3rd time in Marine death probe

Former National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong appeared before a special counsel team Wednesday for the third round of questioning over allegations of government interference in an initial probe into the death of a Marine in 2023. Cho, who underwent questioning by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team last week and late last month, told reporters that he would faithfully take part in the session without answering their questions on the allegations. The case centers on allegations the results of

Aug. 13, 2025

Opposition party lawmaker appears for questioning in Marine death probe

Rep. Lim Jong-deuk of the main opposition People Power Party appeared before a special counsel team Tuesday to be questioned about allegations of the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration's interference in a probe into the death of a Marine in 2023 when he served as a presidential aide. Lim, who formerly served as second deputy national security adviser, did not respond to reporters' questions as he arrived at special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's office in southern Seoul, marking the first time a si

Aug. 12, 2025

Ex-interior minister files for review of legality of his arrest

Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on Friday filed for a review of the legality of his arrest after being placed in custody last week over his alleged role in connection to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court will hold a hearing later in the day to review whether the procedures for Lee's arrest followed due process and whether his continued state of arrest is necessary. Depending on the outcome, Lee could be released from Seoul De

Aug. 8, 2025

Special counsel raids foreign ministry in probe into ex-defense chief

Special Counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team raided the foreign ministry Wednesday over allegations that former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup was abruptly allowed to leave the country last year to avoid an investigation into suspected government interference in the military probe into the death of a Marine in 2023. The team has been investigating the circumstances surrounding Lee's sudden appointment as the ambassador to Australia on March 4 last year, when he was under probe by the Corruption Invest

Aug. 6, 2025