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Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
South Korea's Lee cites 'inseparable' relationship with Japan in first summit
FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (C) and his wife Kim Hye-Kyung (L) arrive for a ceremony to mark the 70th Memorial Day at the Seoul National Cemetery in Seoul, South Korea, 06 June 2025. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL/TOKYO - South Korea's new President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to deepen a relationship prized by Washington and closely watched by China and North Korea, as the pair met for their first summit. The two leaders spoke on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada on Tuesday. "Under the current strategic environment, the importance of Japan-South Korea relations and Japan-U.S.-South Korea cooperation has not changed at all - rather, it has become more important," Ishiba said later at a press conference. Lee said the two countries have an "inseparable" relationship like "neighbours who share a front yard." The leaders discussed maintaining and strengthening trilateral cooperation with the United States to respond to geopolitical crises including the North Korea issue, his office said in a statement. Ties between the U.S. allies have often been strained, rooted in historical disputes stemming from Japan's colonial rule over the Korean peninsula from 1910-1945. The United States has pressed the two countries to cooperate more closely to confront regional challenges such as North Korea's nuclear threat and rising competition from China. Lee told Ishiba that cooperation would be mutually beneficial amid difficulties in the international trade environment and called for the improvement of ties in a "future-oriented manner". In recent years, Lee had been harshly critical of efforts by his predecessor, conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, to mend ties with Tokyo, and his stance as president will be closely watched by the United States and China. He once called Yoon a "puppet" of Japan and decried a landmark 2023 summit with former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as the "most humiliating moment" in South Korea's diplomatic history. Lee, who moderated his rhetoric before assuming office this month, has said pragmatism is key to his diplomacy and he would continue with security cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the U.S. "In terms of early diplomatic scorecard, President Lee isn't only saying the right things, he's doing things in the right order," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "His first travel abroad for the G7 summit demonstrates South Korea's global governance contributions with fellow middle powers like Canada that are committed to defending the international order," Easley said. Lee's visit to Canada for the G7 summit marks his first international trip as president, since winning the June 3 snap presidential election called after Yoon was impeached and removed for briefly imposing martial law last year. During the summit, Lee also met with other world leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where he called for progress on updating the free trade agreement between the two countries, according to Lee's office. In a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lee promised to deepen strategic cooperation and highlighted South Korean investments in the South Asian country. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Yoon Suk Yeol removed as South Korea's president over short-lived martial law
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's Constitutional Court unanimously removed Yoon Suk Yeol from office Friday, ending his tumultuous presidency and setting up a new election, four months after he threw the nation into turmoil with an ill-fated declaration of martial law. The verdict capped a dramatic fall for Yoon, a former star prosecutor who became president in 2022, just a year after he entered politics. In a nationally televised hearing, the court's acting chief Moon Hyung-bae said the eight-member bench found Yoon's actions were unconstitutional and had a grave impact. 'By declaring martial law in breach of the constitution and other laws, the defendant brought back the history of abusing state emergency decrees, shocked the people and caused confusion in the society, economy, politics, diplomacy and all other areas,' Moon said. 'Given the negative impact on constitutional order caused by the defendant's violation of laws and its ripple effects are grave, we find that the benefits of upholding the constitution by dismissing the defendant far outweigh the national losses from the dismissal of the president,' the justice concluded. Protesters erupt in jubilation and sorrow Anti-Yoon protesters near the court erupted into tears and danced when the verdict was announced in the late morning. Two women wept as they hugged and an old man near them leapt to his feet and screamed with joy. The crowd later marched through Seoul streets. Outside Yoon's official residence, many supporters cried, screamed and yelled at journalists when they saw the news of the verdict on a giant TV screen. But they quickly cooled down after their organizer pleaded for calm. 'We will absolutely not be shaken!' a protest leader shouted on stage. 'Anyone who accepts this ruling and prepares for an early presidential election is our enemy.' No major violence has been reported by late afternoon. 'Political risks related to domestic polarization and policy instability remain,' Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said. 'But the Constitutional Court's unanimous ruling has removed a major source of uncertainty. Korean government institutions have withstood a volatile mix of legislative obstruction and executive overreach that posed the greatest challenge to democracy in a generation.' Korea faces an election with deep divisions An election will be held within two months for a new president. But a festering divide over Yoon's impeachment could complicate South Korea's efforts to deal with crucial issues like President Donald Trump's tariffs and other 'America First' policies, observers say. Yoon said in a statement issued via his defense team that he deeply regrets failing to live up to the public's expectations, but stopped short of explicitly accepting the verdict. There have been fears he would incite efforts to resist his removal, as he earlier vowed to fight to the end. He added that he will pray for the country and its people. 'It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our nation,' Yoon said. Yoon's ruling People Power Party said it would accept the decision, but one of Yoon's lawyers, Yoon Kap-keun, called the ruling 'completely incomprehensible' and a 'pure political decision." Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country's acting leader, vowed to maintain public safety and order and ensure a smooth transition to the next administration. Surveys show Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, is the early favorite to win the upcoming presidential by-election, though he faces several trials for corruption and other charges. 'It will be an uphill battle for the conservative party to win a snap presidential election,' said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. 'If Lee wins, South Korea's foreign policy will likely look very different from what the U.S. and like-minded countries have enjoyed during Yoon's presidency because of the demands of the progressive base.' Lee welcomed the ruling and credited the South Korean people for 'protecting our democratic republic.' Crisis started with a night of chaos four months ago Martial law lasted only six hours, but left behind a political crisis, rattling financial markets and unsettling the country's diplomatic partners. After announcing martial law late at night on Dec. 3, Yoon, a conservative, sent hundreds of soldiers to the liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly, election offices and other sites. Special operations soldiers smashed windows at the assembly and scuffled with protesters, evoking traumatic memories of the country's past military rules among many South Koreans. Enough lawmakers, including some from the ruling party, managed to enter the assembly to vote down Yoon's decree unanimously. Some senior military and police officers sent to the assembly testified Yoon ordered them to drag out lawmakers to block the vote on his decree or to detain his political rivals. Yoon says the troops were deployed to the assembly simply to maintain order. Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly on Dec. 14. The assembly accused him of violating the constitution and other laws by suppressing assembly activities, attempting to detain politicians, and undermining peace across the country. In his final testimony at the Constitutional Court hearing, Yoon said his decree was a desperate attempt to draw public support of his fight against the 'wickedness' of the Democratic Party, which had obstructed his agenda, impeached top officials and slashed the government's budget bill. He earlier called the National Assembly 'a den of criminals' and 'anti-state forces.' The Constitutional Court ruled Yoon infringed upon the assembly's right to demand martial law be lifted, the freedom of political party activities and the neutrality of the military. It also said Yoon's political impasse with the opposition wasn't the type of emergency situation that required martial law and that Yoon's decree lacked required legal procedures such as deliberation by a formal Cabinet meeting. Yoon still faces criminal charges Yoon has been indicted on charges of rebellion in connection with his decree, a charge that carries the death penalty or a life sentence if convicted. He became the first South Korean president to be arrested or indicted while in office. Yoon was released from jail in March after a Seoul district court cancelled his arrest. That allows him to stand trial without detention. His removal from office also costs Yoon the presidential immunity that protected him from most criminal prosecutions. This means he could face other criminal charges, such as abuse of power, in connection with his martial law decree, some observers say. ___ Associated Press writer Foster Klug contributed to this report. Hyung-jin Kim And Kim Tong-hyung, The Associated Press
Ammon
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Ammon
South Korean President Yoon ousted from office as constitutional court upholds impeachment
Ammon News - President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea was officially removed from office on Friday after the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the parliament's decision to impeach him. The ruling followed Yoon's controversial declaration of martial law last year, which triggered one of the most significant political crises the nation has seen in decades. The decision brings an end to months of political instability that had complicated South Korea's response to major issues, including its relationship with the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump and economic concerns in Asia's fourth-largest economy. Under South Korea's constitution, a new presidential election must now be held within 60 days. Until then, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will continue as acting president. Commenting on the court's verdict, Professor Leif-Eric Easley of Ewha University in Seoul said, 'The unanimous ruling by the Constitutional Court removes a major uncertainty—just in time, given the challenges ahead with North Korea, diplomatic tensions with China, and trade pressures from the Trump administration.' Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae stated that Yoon had overstepped his constitutional authority with the martial law order issued on December 3, calling it a "serious threat to democracy." He added, 'President Yoon gravely betrayed the trust of the people, who are the true sovereigns of the republic,' noting that the move had caused turmoil across society, the economy, and foreign affairs. The court's decision was met with loud celebration by thousands of demonstrators outside the courthouse, many of whom had been protesting for weeks. "This took a long time, but thankfully the result is fair," said 23-year-old student Kim Han-sol, who watched the ruling live at the rally. In contrast, supporters of Yoon gathered near his official residence were left in shock. Some wept openly, while others reacted with anger. According to Yonhap News Agency, one individual was arrested for damaging a police vehicle. Despite the political drama, financial markets remained relatively stable. The Korean won held steady at around 1% higher against the U.S. dollar, trading at 1,436.6. The KOSPI index dipped by 0.7%, showing little change from earlier in the day, as investors had largely anticipated the court's decision.
Al Arabiya
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
South Korea Constitutional Court to rule on Yoon's impeachment
South Korea's Constitutional Court will issue its long-awaited ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment Friday, months after he was suspended for declaring martial law. The court has held weeks of impeachment hearings to determine whether to officially remove Yoon from office, after he was impeached by lawmakers over his short-lived suspension of civilian rule. 'The president's impeachment case verdict will be on April 4, 2025, at the Constitutional Court,' the court said in a statement Tuesday. The Constitutional Court has until June to decide his fate, but it has typically issued rulings within weeks for past presidential impeachment cases. The court has taken longer over the case than expected, giving rise to a surge in speculation, with some suggesting the justices must be experiencing intense disagreements. For Yoon to be removed from office, at least six of the court's eight justices must vote in favor. Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans have been rallying for and against Yoon every weekend in central Seoul. Yoon, a former prosecutor, was detained in January on insurrection charges but was released in early March on procedural grounds. He has remained defiant throughout and blamed a 'malicious' opposition. He is also the first sitting South Korean president to stand trial in a criminal case, facing charges of insurrection over the martial law bid. Fresh Elections? South Korea has been roiled for months by Yoon's declaration of martial law on December 3, which also shocked world allies. If the Constitutional Court decides to formally dismiss the president, it would trigger elections in 60 days— which opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is currently the frontrunner to win. An appeals court last week overturned an election law conviction against Lee, potentially clearing the way for him to mount a presidential campaign. But if it is reinstated on appeal before the election, he will be stripped of his parliamentary seat and barred from running for office for five years, including the next presidential vote. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said the ruling on Lee may have appeared 'to many Koreans to be reading the political tea leaves.' 'This is the judiciary trying to unwind the lawfare of the past three years to allow South Korea's political crisis to be resolved by an election rather than by the courts.' In a separate case, the Constitutional Court last week dismissed the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating him as acting president—a role he took after the president was suspended for declaring martial law. Experts said the ruling did not have a direct legal correlation with the pending decision on Yoon's impeachment, as it was not focused on the legality of martial law itself.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
S. Korea court to rule Friday on President Yoon impeachment
South Korea's Constitutional Court will issue its long-awaited ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment Friday, months after he was suspended for declaring martial law. The court has held weeks of impeachment hearings to determine whether to officially remove Yoon from office, after he was impeached by lawmakers over his short-lived suspension of civilian rule. "The president's impeachment case verdict will be on April 4, 2025 at the Constitutional Court," the court said in a statement Tuesday. The Constitutional Court has until June to decide his fate but it has typically issued rulings within weeks for past presidential impeachment cases. The court has taken longer over the case than expected, giving rise to a surge in speculation with some suggesting the justices must be experiencing intense disagreements. For Yoon to be removed from office, at least six of the court's eight justices must vote in favour. Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans have been rallying for and against Yoon every weekend in central Seoul. Yoon, a former prosecutor, was detained in January on insurrection charges but was released in early March on procedural grounds. He has remained defiant throughout and blamed a "malicious" opposition. He is also the first sitting South Korean president to stand trial in a criminal case, facing charges of insurrection over the martial law bid. - Fresh elections? - South Korea has been roiled for months by Yoon's declaration of martial law on December 3, which also shocked world allies. If the Constitutional Court decides to formally dismiss the president, it would trigger elections in 60 days -- which opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is currently frontrunner to win. An appeals court last week overturned an election law conviction against Lee, potentially clearing the way for him to mount a presidential campaign. But if it is reinstated on appeal before the election, he will be stripped of his parliamentary seat and barred from running for office for five years, including the next presidential vote. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said the ruling on Lee may have appeared "to many Koreans to be reading the political tea leaves". "This is the judiciary trying to unwind the lawfare of the past three years to allow South Korea's political crisis to be resolved by an election rather than by the courts." In a separate case, the Constitutional Court last week dismissed the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating him as acting president -- a role he took after the president was suspended for declaring martial law. Experts said the ruling did not have a direct legal correlation with the pending decision on Yoon's impeachment, as it was not focused on the legality of martial law itself. hs-kjk/ceb/rsc
