National | FOCUS Dec 28, 2020
Biden faces uphill battle in bringing Japan and South Korea together
Differences over wartime labor compensation remain deep and the two countries are unlikely to fundamentally resolve the issue.
Asia Pacific / Crime & Legal Jun 11, 2020
South Korea top court upholds jail term for Park Geun-hye's friend
South Korea's top court Thursday upheld a lower court decision that sentenced a longtime confidante of former President Park Geun-hye to 18 years in prison over a corruption scandal that led to her 2017 ouster. Choi Soon-sil also faces a fine of 20 billion won ...
Asia Pacific / Politics | FOCUS Oct 15, 2019
South Korean President Moon Jae-in faces crisis with echoes of predecessor Park's downfall
by Jihye Lee and Kanga Kong
Three years ago, Moon Jae-in was among the masses on the streets of Seoul seeking to oust a president accused of ignoring the people's will. Now, his own presidency is facing a similar crisis. Moon was forced to issue a public apology Monday after Cho ...
Asia Pacific / Politics Aug 24, 2018
South Korean court extends former President Park Geun-hye's prison term to 25 years
A South Korean appeals court on Friday sentenced former President Park Geun-hye to 25 years in jail, Yonhap news agency reported, in a case arising from a far-reaching corruption scandal that toppled her in 2017. Park became South Korea's first democratically elected leader to be ...
Asia Pacific / Politics Jul 10, 2018
South Korea to probe alleged plan by military to quell Park Geun-hye protests
by Jesse Johnson
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has ordered an special independent investigation into an allegation that the top military intelligence unit may have proposed an armed crackdown on peaceful candlelight vigils last year protesting the rule of Moon's predecessor, the presidential Blue House said Tuesday. Last ...
Asia Pacific / Politics Sep 26, 2017
Supporters of ousted South Korean leader Park ask U.N. body to probe her detention conditions
Supporters of former South Korean president Park Geun-hye have asked a United Nations body to investigate whether her detention during her corruption trial prevented Park from accessing proper medical treatment, a barrister said on Tuesday. Park, ousted earlier this year and in detention since March, ...
Asia Pacific / Crime & Legal May 23, 2017
South Korean 'swordsman' leads prosecution against impeached ex-leader Park
A high-flying prosecutor, who was demoted under impeached former president Park Geun-hye, is overseeing the case against her as Park made her first appearance in court on Tuesday to face criminal charges over the corruption scandal that ousted her. Yoon Seok-youl, 57, was demoted for ...
Asia Pacific / Politics | ANALYSIS May 16, 2017
First liberal rule in decade unlikely to bring swift changes to South Korea
South Korea's new liberal President Moon Jae-in promised to seek a parliamentary review of a controversial U.S. anti-missile defense system. If the vote were held today, the deployment would likely be endorsed in the legislative body controlled by conservative and moderate politicians. More importantly, pushing ...
Asia Pacific / Politics May 10, 2017
Amid soaring tensions, South Korea's new leader to navigate fine line between Beijing, Washington
by Jesse Johnson
Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated new South Korean leader Moon Jae-in on Wednesday amid soaring tensions on the Korean Peninsula, saying Beijing is willing to work with Seoul to "properly handle differences." Xi's message to Moon comes as China and South Korea have seen their ...
Asia Pacific / Politics May 9, 2017
South Korean President-elect Moon's main policy pledges
by Cynthia Kim and Jane Chung
South Korean liberal human rights lawyer Moon Jae-in won the presidency in an election on Tuesday, exit polls showed, ending nine years of conservative rule. Following are some of Moon's policy positions and promises he made during the campaign: North Korea Moon has outlined a more moderate ...
Asia Pacific / Politics May 9, 2017
Liberal Moon seen as favorite as South Koreans vote for new president to succeed ousted Park
South Koreans flocked to polling stations to elect a new leader on Tuesday, with a high turnout suggesting voters are eager to move on from a corruption scandal that brought down the former president and shook the political and business elite. Unless there is a ...
Asia Pacific / Politics May 8, 2017
Election poised to bring South Korea change following months of political upheaval
by Kanga Kong
After one of South Korea's most tumultuous political periods in recent memory, voters appear ready for change. The nation of 52 million people heads to the polls Tuesday in an election triggered by the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, who has been detained on ...