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S. Korea's snap presidential election expected to be held on June 3: media
President Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office on April 4 after the country's Constitutional Court, in a unanimous decision, upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach him over the Dec 3 martial law decree.
SEOUL -- South Korean prosecutors have asked the impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol to appear for questioning over his martial law imposition by Dec 21, Yonhap news agency said Tuesday.
The prosecution's special investigation team delivered a summons to Yoon's side Monday, calling for Yoon to appear for questioning over charges of insurrection and abuse of power by Saturday.
The prosecution sent an official letter last week to the presidential side, asking Yoon to appear at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at 10:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) Sunday.
Yoon defied the subpoena last week, reportedly saying that his defense counsel had yet to be formed.
The prosecution was quoted as saying that if Yoon does not comply with the second summons order, it will consider seeking an arrest warrant.
If Yoon complies with the summons, he will become the country's first sitting president to appear at the prosecutors' office for questioning as a criminal suspect.
Separately, a joint investigation unit of the police, the defense ministry and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials asked Yoon to appear for questioning on Wednesday, but both the presidential office and residence refused to receive the summons.
Yoon was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on a rebellion charge following his martial law imposition on the night of Dec. 3 which was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
The second motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec. 14 and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power will be suspended.
SEOUL -- South Korea's constitutional court had asked President Yoon Suk-yeol to submit written answers for his impeachment trial by next week, multiple media outlets said Tuesday.
Kim Hyung-du, one of the six court justices, told local reporters that a notification was delivered Monday morning to inform Yoon of the court receiving the National Assembly's impeachment resolution against him.
Kim noted that the notification included a phrase calling for Yoon to send written answers by Dec 23.
Based on Yoon's written answers and the parliament's impeachment resolution, the constitutional court will earnestly review both claims from the National Assembly and the impeached president.
The constitutional court will hold the first preliminary hearing on the impeachment on Dec. 27, vowing to prioritize the case on whether to uphold or reject Yoon's impeachment that was passed through the National Assembly over the weekend.
At least two-thirds of the nine-member constitutional court should rule in favor of the impeachment to remove Yoon from office.
Currently vacant are three justices, for whom the majority opposition Democratic Party and the ruling People Power Party recommended two and one justices respectively.
If the court upholds the impeachment, a snap presidential election will be held within 60 days, but otherwise, Yoon will immediately be reinstated.
SEOUL -- A South Korean military court on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Lee Jin-woo, chief of Capital Defense Command, in a probe of a short-lived emergency martial law imposition earlier this month, Yonhap news agency reported.
Lee was accused of ordering the deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly building after President Yoon Suk-yeol declared it on Dec 3.
SEOUL - South Korean prosecutors summoned President Yoon Suk-yeol for questioning for the second time on Monday after their botched attempt to subpoena the impeached president last week, according to multiple media outlets.
The prosecution's special investigation headquarters delivered their second summons to the president's side, asking Yoon to appear at the prosecutors' office in Seoul for questioning over insurrection and other charges.
The prosecution sent an official letter last week to the presidential side, asking Yoon to appear at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at 10:00 am local time Sunday (0100 GMT).
Yoon defied the subpoena last week, reportedly saying that his defense counsel had yet to be formed.
If Yoon agrees to the questioning, he will become the country's first sitting president to appear at the prosecutors' office as a criminal suspect.
Yoon was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on a rebellion charge following his martial law imposition on the night of Dec 3 that was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
The second motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Saturday and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power will be suspended.
If Yoon continues to reject the summons for no justifiable reason, the prosecution could try and obtain an arrest warrant against Yoon and detain the president by force.
SEOUL - South Korea's constitutional court said Monday that it will prioritize the case on whether to uphold or reject an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol that was passed by the National Assembly last Saturday.
The court's spokesperson said at a televised press conference that among others, Yoon's impeachment case will be prioritized, announcing a decision to hold the first preliminary hearing on the impeachment on Dec 27 after having its first meeting of justices earlier in the day.
During the preliminary hearing set to be made public, both the parliamentary plaintiff and Yoon's defense counsel will be called to review issues and evidence while deciding on hearing dates for deliberation.
The court planned to secure investigation records from the prosecution and police early during the preliminary hearing, forming a task force with about 10 constitutional researchers to speed up the review of facts and legal issues.
The second motion to impeach Yoon was passed by the National Assembly last Saturday and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power will be suspended.
Yoon was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on rebellion charge following his martial law imposition on the night of Dec 3 that was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
At least two-thirds of the nine-member constitutional court should rule in favor of the impeachment to remove Yoon from office.
Currently vacant are three justices, for whom the majority opposition Democratic Party and the ruling People Power Party recommended two and one justices respectively.
If the court upholds the impeachment, a snap presidential election will be held within 60 days, but otherwise, Yoon will immediately be reinstated.
SEOUL -- South Korea's ruling party leader on Monday announced his resignation after President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached by the parliament last Saturday.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, said in a televised press conference that he resigned as the party's supreme council collapsed with the resignation of its members, making it impossible for him to carry out his duties as the party leader.
He apologized to all the people who suffered from the imposition of an emergency martial law, which was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3 but was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
Han made best efforts to find a better way for the country except Yoon's impeachment, but it failed, noted Han, who earlier pushed for an "orderly resignation" of Yoon.
Han's resignation came less than five months after he was elected as the party leader on July 23.
The second motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Saturday and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.
Following the impeachment, all five elected members of the People Power Party's supreme council expressed their willingness to step down.
With Han's resignation, floor leader Kweon Seong-dong will serve as acting leader of the ruling party.
SEOUL -- S. Korea's joint investigation team will summon the impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
The team was scheduled to deliver a summons to the presidential office, asking Yoon to appear for questioning on Dec. 18 as part of its probe into Yoon's martial law imposition.
The team is composed of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation (NOI) and the defense ministry's investigation headquarters.
The second motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Saturday and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.
Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
Yoon was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on insurrection charge and became the first sitting president to be banned from leaving the country.
The parliament of the Republic of Korea impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday over his short-lived martial law decree, sparking jubilation among supporters of the action, but the decision requires endorsement from the country's Constitutional Court, which analysts said indicates that political uncertainty in the ROK is far from over.
The 300-member National Assembly passed the impeachment motion 204-85 in the afternoon, after which Yoon's presidential powers and duties were suspended, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo took over as acting president pending a final court decision.
Lam Peng Er, head of the Korea Centre and principal research fellow of the East Asian Institute at National University of Singapore, called the parliament's decision "just the end of the beginning" of the political crisis in the ROK. "It is going to be a very tricky, uncertain transition, so South Korea now is in uncharted territory," Lam said.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to determine whether to dismiss Yoon as president or restore his powers. If Yoon is removed from office, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.
Lam said that while the court's decision will be a complicated process, a potential fresh election will see intensified competition between the ruling and opposition parties, with factional politics adding to political uncertainty.
Saturday's secret ballot voting on Yoon's impeachment was the second held in the National Assembly within two weeks of his Dec 3 imposition of martial law. Ruling party lawmakers boycotted the first vote on the motion on Dec 7.
With all 300 members present this time, 204 voted in favor and 85 against. There were three abstentions and eight invalid votes. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said the outcome was driven by "the people's ardent desire for democracy, courage and dedication", The Associated Press reported.
Hundreds of thousands of people who had gathered near the parliament roared in jubilation following the announcement. They waved banners about the constitutional order being preserved and chanted, "We did it!"
Prime Minister Han, a seasoned politician who has previously held a string of top government posts, was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying, "I will give all my strength and effort to stably manage state affairs in this difficult time."
Han convened a National Security Council meeting and vowed to maintain a strong security posture and manage international credibility in a stable manner.
Kweon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ROK's ruling People Power Party, of which Yoon is a member, said on Sunday that they have rejected a proposal by the main opposition Democratic Party to set up a bipartisan consultation mechanism to stabilize the operation of state affairs, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, told reporters on the same day that his party will not consider an impeachment move against Han as of now.
Yoon is the third ROK president impeached while in office. In December 2016, the National Assembly impeached Park Geun-hye, the country's first female president, over a corruption scandal. The Constitutional Court took 91 days to uphold her impeachment and removed her from office in March 2017. In 2004, then president Roh Moo-hyun was impeached by the ROK parliament over an alleged election law violation, but the court later overturned his impeachment and restored his presidential powers. The court's decision came in 63 days.
According to ROK law, the Constitutional Court can uphold a presidential impeachment with at least six votes in favor, but it typically requires a review by seven of the nine justices. The court currently has six justices after three reached the end of their term earlier this year.
Cho Hee-kyoung, a law professor at Hongik University in Seoul, said the court is likely to uphold the impeachment, as it is clear that Yoon's imposition of martial law was unconstitutional. "Basically, the court only needs to be convinced that the order came from Yoon, and he knew what he was doing," she said.
Cho noted that nomination of new justices is in progress, with two candidates recommended by the main opposition party and one by the ruling party, but their final appointment could take time, because it calls for a consensus of the two parties.
SEOUL -- South Korean prosecutors said on Sunday that impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol did not comply with a summons for today and they will soon issue another order, Yonhap news agency reported.
The special prosecution team handling an investigation into Yoon's botched martial law imposition said it had sent a summons to Yoon on Dec 11 to call him into the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for questioning at 10 am Sunday. Yoon did not show up.
The summons was sent to Yoon's office and the prosecution had confirmed its delivery, Yonhap said, citing a prosecution official.
The prosecution said it plans to send a second summons to Yoon soon, the Yonhap report added.
Yoon was impeached in a National Assembly vote on Saturday over his short-lived imposition of a highly controversial emergency martial law earlier this month.
The impeached president was accused of abusing his power to declare martial law for unconstitutional and unlawful purposes and to order military commanders to dispatch troops to the parliament and arrest key political figures, the Yonhap report said.
SEOUL -- Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the South Korean ruling party, said on Sunday that his party has rejected a proposal by the country's main opposition party to set up a consultative body to stabilize the operation of state affairs.
The People Power Party is still the ruling party and an acting president has already been appointed according to the Constitution, Kweon said at the National Assembly on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, said in a press conference that it is imperative for the country to realize a speedy normalization as the national defense and security posture have been undermined by the "insurrection" incident, referring to the botched emergency martial law imposition earlier this month by the now-impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Lee called on the country's parliament and government to set up a consultative body to stabilize the operation of state affairs in the spirit of multi-party cooperation in governance.
SEOUL -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country's acting president, talked to US President Joe Biden in a phone call on Sunday, vowing to maintain and develop the alliance between the two countries, Yonhap news agency reported, citing Han's office.
The South Korean government "will carry out our diplomatic and security policies without disruption and work to ensure that the South Korea-US alliance continues to be maintained and developed without wavering," Han was quoted by Yonhap as saying during the phone conversation.
He explained to the US president that all state affairs of South Korea will be run strictly in accordance with the constitution and laws.
Biden said the US side will continue to work together with the South Korean side for the development and strengthening of the US-South Korea alliance and US-Japan-South Korea cooperation, according to Yonhap.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly said in the southern Jordanian city of Aqaba on Saturday that the US government is ready to work with Han's government.
Han assumed office as acting president after President Yoon Suk-yeol was suspended from his duties following his impeachment on Saturday.
The acting president said in a national address Saturday night that he would do his best to stabilize state affairs in accordance with the constitution and laws.
SEOUL -- Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's main opposition party, said on Sunday in a press conference that his party will not consider for now an impeachment against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country's acting president.
Lee stressed to Han the importance of managing state affairs in a neutral stance during their phone call on Saturday, the chief of the Democratic Party of Korea told reporters.
President Yoon Suk-yeol has been suspended from his presidential duties since the National Assembly voted on Saturday to impeach him over his botched martial law imposition.
Yoon vows to do best for country till end after parliament OKs President's impeachment bill.
South Korea's National Assembly passed on Saturday a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol amid growing calls for Yoon to step down over his martial law decree.
In a plenary session, the bill was approved in a 204-85 vote with three abstentions, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Although the majority of lawmakers from the ruling party boycotted the first impeachment vote on Dec 7, all 300 lawmakers voted on the second motion.
The passage of the impeachment motion is a decision made in accordance with the promise to uphold the Constitution, which was solemnly sworn to as representatives of the people, said National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik after announcing the result.
"The National Assembly and the government will work together to restore stability to people's livelihoods, while ensuring anxiety and concern in economy, foreign affairs and security and other issues will not further increase," said Woo.
Calls for Yoon to step down have been growing after he shocked the nation by declaring emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3. The declaration was revoked by the National Assembly about two hours later.
The first impeachment vote was scrapped on Dec 7 after the majority of lawmakers from the ruling party boycotted the vote.
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, said the passage of the vote is "the victory of the people and democracy".
After the impeachment vote is passed, the Constitutional Court is required to decide whether the motion is valid within 180 days.
In the previous case, it took the court 63 days and 91 days to rule on former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye's impeachment cases in 2004 and 2017, respectively.
If the court decides to impeach Yoon, a presidential election would take place within 60 days.
Nationwide rallies were held on Saturday as tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets to demand Yoon's impeachment.
SEOUL -- South Korea's National Assembly on Saturday started voting on a second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his botched declaration of martial law.
The first motion to impeach the president was scrapped last Saturday due to a lack of quorum, with nearly all lawmakers from Yoon's ruling People Power Party boycotting the vote.
The ruling People Power Party decided to maintain its position to oppose the impeachment motion but not to boycott the vote, Yonhap news agency reported Saturday.
SEOUL -- South Korea's National Assembly on Saturday opened a plenary session to vote on a second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his botched declaration of martial law.
The ruling People Power Party decided to maintain its position to oppose the impeachment motion, but not to boycott the vote, Yonhap news agency reported Saturday.
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South Korean ruling party maintains decision to oppose President Yoon's impeachment: media
SEOUL -- A South Korean court on Friday issued arrest warrants for heads of national and Seoul police agencies for their roles in President Yoon Suk-yeol's brief imposition of martial law last week.
The Seoul Central District Court said that it has issued arrest warrants for Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, considering the possibility that the two might destroy evidence.
The two top police officers had been arrested Wednesday under emergency arrest without warrants, and taken into custody at Seoul Namdaemun Police Station.
Earlier in the evening, prosecutors arrested Lee Jin-woo, chief of the Capital Defense Command, as part of their ongoing investigations into his alleged involvement in Yoon's martial law declaration.
Lee, who had previously been placed under a travel ban, was accused of ordering the deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly building after Yoon declared martial law on Dec 3.
SEOUL -- South Korea's parliament on Friday reported the second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his martial law declaration after the first one was scrapped last Saturday, TV footage showed.
The motion to impeach Yoon was reported in the 300-member National Assembly's plenary session after the first one failed to be passed last week as most of the 108 ruling party lawmakers boycotted it.
Under the constitution, the impeachment bill must be initiated by a majority of lawmakers and approved by at least two-thirds of the National Assembly legislators.
The opposition bloc will need eight votes from the ruling party lawmakers to pass the motion.
If it is passed, the constitutional court will deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's constitutional powers will be suspended and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will be an acting president.
If the impeachment of Yoon is upheld by the court, a snap presidential election would be held within 60 days.
Yoon was named as a suspect on an insurrection charge over his declaration of an emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3, which was repealed by the National Assembly hours later.
SEOUL -- South Korean police were reviewing a raid on President Yoon Suk-yeol's residence as part of the investigation into Yoon's alleged insurrection charge over his martial law declaration, Yonhap news agency said Friday.
An unidentified official with the National Office of Investigation (NOI) was quoted as saying that the raid on the presidential residence was in the "reviewing stage" while a search warrant against Yoon for phone call details was being reviewed.
The police were also reviewing whether to seek an arrest warrant against Yoon, local broadcaster YTN reported.
A group of police investigators on Wednesday attempted to raid Yoon's office, but security service agents blocked the entry for security reasons.
Yoon was named as a suspect in the alleged insurrection charge over his declaration of an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, which the National Assembly repealed hours later.
The opposition parties, including the main liberal Democratic Party, on Thursday submitted the second impeachment motion against Yoon after the first one was scrapped last Saturday.
