The opposition-led National Assembly on Thursday passed two bills that could limit the authority and the power of the current ruling bloc. The Assembly, in a 179-102 vote, passed a bill that strips the current ruling People Power Party of the right to recommend candidates for a special counsel when investigating allegations against the president or the president’s family members. The revision to the Act on the Appointment of Independent Prosecutor bans the political party that the presiden

The delegation from Ukraine did not request that South Korea provide defensive weapons during a series of high-level meetings held Wednesday in Seoul. Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, who spoke with his visiting Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov for 30 minutes on Wednesday, said he “did not receive any proposals” from the delegation about buying the Cheongung air defense system, as some reports had speculated. The South Korean defense minister was speaking Thursday in re

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's possible visit to South Korea in January for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol has not yet been decided, the presidential office said Thursday. Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun earlier reported that Ishiba has been coordinating the visit to Seoul in early January for a summit with Yoon. "Nothing has been decided. The two leaders have agreed to continue advancing shuttle diplomacy," a senior presidential official at Yoon's office said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol met with a delegation from Ukraine led by the country's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Wednesday at his office in Seoul, according to Yoon's office. Yoon was quoted by the presidential office as saying that he hoped South Korea and Ukraine could find a practical breakthrough to counter the security threat posed by military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Yoon's office did not disclose what Umerov said during his meeting with Yoon. Following t

The presidential office on Wednesday expressed concerns about the potential impact of President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on Korean businesses in Mexico and Canada, vowing proactive measures to address the risks. Sung Tae-yoon, the presidential chief of staff for policy, held an interagency meeting to assess the potential effects of Trump's pledge to levy a 25 percent tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, along with an additional 10 percent tariff on China. Trump&#

The Ministry of Education approved Yonsei University's plan to conduct an additional essay test for natural sciences applicants after the original exam -- part of the 2025 admissions cycle -- was marred by a leaked question. The decision aims to resolve ongoing legal disputes over the leak and stabilize the university’s admissions process. The additional test, scheduled for December 8, comes in response to a court ruling that suspended the results of the original exam after proctors a

GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- South Korea’s defense acquisition minister said the upcoming US administration under returning President Donald Trump could be an opportunity for the country’s defense industry. Seok Jong-gun, who heads the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in charge of arms exports, told reporters Tuesday that Trump decreasing support to US allies could open up a new market for South Korean defense companies to explore. The minister said he sees Trump presiden

Talk of a constitutional amendment to ease the presidential term limit has reemerged in South Korea, with a new proposal allowing a president to seek reelection. Chyung Dai-chul, a former lawmaker who served five terms until 2004, said Wednesday he would work to let either the legislature or the government finalize their proposal of an amendment to the Constitution by the end of 2025. His proposal will allow presidents to serve a second term, while shortening the length of a single term from fiv

Prosecutors on Wednesday raided the ruling People Power Party headquarters and its offices in western Seoul as part of an inquiry into claims that a self-proclaimed power broker interfered in the conservative party’s 2022 by-election candidate nominations. The Changwon District Prosecutors' Office conducted a search and seizure based on the allegations that Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, received around 76 million won ($54,400) from former People Power Party Rep. Ki

The presidential office plans to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss responses to US President-elect Donald Trump's proposal to impose tariffs on three trading partners, a senior presidential official said. The meeting comes after Trump said on social media that he will use an executive order to levy new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico on his first day in office. The meeting is expected to analyze the US trade policy in Trump's second term and discuss potential counterme

Prosecutors on Wednesday raided the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party as part of an investigation into an influence-peddling scandal linked to the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. Prosecutors sought to confiscate materials related to the party's nomination of candidates for the 2022 elections but were unable to do so as the relevant office is located in a separate building within the National Assembly compound, according to PPP officials. Authorities are currently working to gai

South Korea unveiled a comprehensive package of support measures for the semiconductor industry Wednesday, with its top economic policymaker highlighting "growing headwinds" amid concerns over potential shifts in US trade policy under the incoming Donald Trump administration and intensifying competition from Chinese rivals. "The next six months will be the 'golden time' that will decide the fate of our industries," Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said during a meetin

The Supreme Court chief on Tuesday recommended a senior judge from the Seoul High Court, known for his expertise in legal principles, as a new justice for the top court. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae recommended Ma Yong-joo to President Yoon Suk Yeol as a new Supreme Court justice to replace Kim Sang-hwan, who is scheduled to retire on Dec. 27. Once Yoon submits a motion seeking the National Assembly's approval for Ma's appointment, the Assembly will hold a confirmation heari

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday vetoed a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into multiple allegations against first lady Kim Keon Hee, including her alleged meddling in past elections, with the legislation marking the third of its kind. Tuesday’s approval comes 12 days after the National Assembly passed the bill on Nov. 14, in a vote boycotted by the ruling People Power Party. Yoon has already vetoed two similar special counsel bills passed in December 2023 and September, wh

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Tuesday refuted allegations that he received help during the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election from Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker at the center of a growing political scandal. With a background in public opinion polling, Myung Tae-kyun has claimed he supported Oh's victory by providing polling data and strategic advice. Speaking at a press briefing at City Hall on Tuesday, Oh denied ever commissioning polls from Myung or receiving any related data. Th

South Korea will continue to make efforts to develop its alliance with the United States in the best way possible under the incoming second Donald Trump administration, its top envoy said Monday. Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong made the remarks amid concerns that Trump's reelection could lead to significant changes in policies related to the alliance, security and other shared issues, given his unconventional and transactional approach to running state affairs. "We put the top priority on con

The Cabinet on Tuesday demanded the National Assembly reconsider a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into corruption allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, the third time the government has sought a veto of the opposition-led bill. A motion demanding reconsideration was approved during a Cabinet meeting held 12 days after the bill passed through the opposition-controlled National Assembly. President Yoon Suk Yeol is widely expected to endorse the motion. "The right to

The Cabinet on Tuesday demanded the National Assembly reconsider a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into corruption allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, the third time the government has sought a veto of the opposition-led bill. A motion demanding reconsideration was approved during a Cabinet meeting held 12 days after the bill passed through the opposition-controlled National Assembly. President Yoon Suk Yeol is widely expected to endorse the motion. The bill calls for

Main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted Monday of subornation of perjury, with the Seoul Central District Court ruling him not guilty of allegedly asking a former mayoral secretary to provide false testimony in his favor in late 2018. Last year, prosecutors charged Lee with attempting to persuade a witness to make false testimony in his favor in December 2018, for a court trial over an alleged election law violation. Lee was accused of lying during a televised debate during his campai

The leaders of South Korea and Malaysia forged a strategic partnership on Monday to bolster cooperation in trade, the defense industry, clean energy and critical materials as they eye the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year. This came as President Yoon Suk Yeol received Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the occasion of his official visit to South Korea. It was the first visit by a Malaysian leader in five years. During the talks, Yoon expressed anticipation that their "bil