Latest news with #HanDuck-soo
Epoch Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
South Korea Police Impose Travel Ban on Former Prime Minister Han and Ex-finance Minister Choi
SEOUL—South Korean police have banned former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and ex-Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok from travelling abroad as part of a probe into alleged insurrection linked to former leader Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid, a police official said. The travel ban was imposed in mid-May, the Yonhap news agency reported. Han and Choi were questioned on Monday by a special police unit investigating former top government officials over insurrection charges, Yonhap said.
Sinar Daily
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Ex-PM, former deputy PM barred from leaving South Korea in martial law probe
The exit bans were reportedly issued in mid-May, Yonhap news agency quoted the police Tuesday. 27 May 2025 03:15pm (COMBO) This combination of pictures made on May 27, 2025 shows South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok (L) attending a joint press conference on South Korea's post impeachment situation in Seoul on December 18, 2024, and former acting president Han Duck-soo speaking to formally announce his candidacy for the presidential election at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 2, 2025. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE and Jung Yeon-je / AFP) SEOUL - Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang Mok have been barred from leaving South Korea amid an ongoing investigation into an alleged insurrection attempt involving ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol. The exit bans were reportedly issued in mid-May, Yonhap news agency quoted the police Tuesday. Both Han and Choi have been named as suspects in connection with Yoon's failed attempt to declare martial law on Dec 3 last year. Police said the two were summoned on Monday, along with former Interior Minister Lee Sang Min, for questioning that lasted around 10 hours. Lee had already been placed under an exit ban earlier in December. The questioning focused on whether the former officials made false statements regarding how martial law-related documents were received during a Cabinet meeting held on the night of Dec 3. Police have completed analysis of surveillance footage from the presidential office's Cabinet meeting room and hallway as part of their investigation. - BERNAMA-YONHAP More Like This
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Seoul slaps travel bans on two former acting presidents: Yonhap
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (right) and former Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs Choi Sang-mok (left) attend a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in Jongno District, central Seoul on April 29, 2025. - Photo: Joint press corps SEOUL: South Korean authorities have imposed travel bans on two former acting presidents as part of an investigation into ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol's December martial law bid, Yonhap news agency said Tuesday (May 27). "Police said on May 27 that former prime minister Han Duck-soo and former finance minister Choi Sang-mok have been banned from leaving the country as they are being investigated as suspects in an insurrection case," Yonhap reported, adding the ban came into effect in mid-May. Yoon was formally stripped of office last month after being impeached and suspended by lawmakers over his December 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule, which saw armed soldiers deployed to parliament. He is currently on trial on insurrection charges over that declaration. If found guilty, Yoon would become the third South Korean president to be found guilty of insurrection -- after two military leaders in connection with a 1979 coup. For charges of insurrection, Yoon could be sentenced to life in prison or the maximum penalty: the death sentence. South Koreans go to the polls next week to elect Yoon's successor, capping months of political turmoil since the martial law declaration. Career bureaucrat Han had been touted as a possible candidate to replace him. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) this month was forced to backtrack after trying to revoke former labour minister Kim Moon-soo's candidacy in favour of Han. - AFP
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former South Korean PM Han Duck-soo seeks presidency on pledge of constitutional reform
SEOUL, May 7 (UPI) -- Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday he would make reforming South Korea's constitution his top priority if he is able to secure the candidacy of the conservative People Power Party and win the presidency next month. Han made the remark at a briefing with international journalists in downtown Seoul ahead of a meeting with current PPP presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, who won the party nomination last week. The two are expected to discuss unifying the conservative candidacy in an effort to defeat current frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the opposition Democratic Party. Han, who served as acting president after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and removed from office last month, said that deep political divisions are threatening to tear South Korea apart. "I decided to run because I felt a sense of crisis," Han said. "If politics do not change completely, the South Korea that our people have worked so hard to build may collapse. I believe that the economy and the society of South Korea should not be held back by politics." Han declared his bid for the presidency on Friday, one day after resigning his post as prime minister and acting president. In announcing his candidacy, the 75-year-old said that, if elected, he would work with public input to craft an amendment proposal during his first year in office and would step down after his third year, when parliamentary and presidential elections would be held under the new Constitution. The South Korean presidency currently consists of a single, five-year term. Han did not specify details of the constitutional reform on Wednesday but said that power must be decentralized and called for a system "where we invite the public to participate in politics." "We have to give less authority to the president as well as the National Assembly," Han said. "We have to have separation of powers. After one year of discussion with the public, I believe we can correct the current system." Han has also held posts as trade minister and finance minister and was the South Korean ambassador to the United States. Han said Wednesday he would not register as a candidate unless there is a merger with Kim under the PPP banner. May 11 is the deadline for candidate registration with the National Election Commission, ahead of the election on June 3. "I have entrusted everything regarding unification to the People Power Party," Han said. "No matter what, I will accept the outcome." He added that a unified candidacy reflects a "solemn order from the public." "Otherwise, there is no future for Korea and we cannot unify our society and politics," Han said.
The Star
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
South Korea ex-PM Han talks up Trump credentials ahead of vote South Korea ex-PM Han talks up Trump credentials ahead of vote
South Korean former prime minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on May 2, 2025. - Photo: AP SEOUL: South Korea's former prime minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday (May 7) he was the best candidate to cut a deal with Donald Trump, as the country faces a snap poll triggered by the impeachment of the ex-president. The June 3 presidential election will decide who replaces Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office over his ill-fated declaration of martial law in December, which sent South Korea into a period of prolonged political turmoil. Han, a 75-year-old career bureaucrat and prime minister under Yoon, was acting president but resigned last week and officially announced his presidential bid. His approval rating is in the single digits. Han, who spent around two months as acting leader after Yoon was impeached, said Wednesday he was "the most experienced and capable person" to discuss trade issues with the US. While leading the country, he said he had directly spoken to US President Trump, who he saw as an "amicable" and "proactive" person in "resolving issues with South Korea". Prime among them are Trump's potentially steep trade tariffs. Han is one of a host of conservative candidates running against main opposition Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung. Analysts say the right needs to unify and run a single candidate if it wants to avert an opposition landslide. Han was seen as a unifying candidate, having held a range of senior roles across both liberal and conservative governments, including prime minister, finance minister, trade minister and the country's ambassador to the US. But the country's conservative People Power Party picked former labour minister Kim Moon-soo as their official candidate. The latest Gallup poll, released on April 25, shows Lee, currently facing multiple criminal trials, leading the race with 38 percent support, while all other candidates, including Han, trail in the single digits. - AFP
