Latest news with #SeoulMetropolitanPolice
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Security heightened for election day
Authorities vowed to put in their utmost effort to ensure a safe election, with measures ranging from accident prevention at campaign sites and polling and counting stations, to providing security when transporting ballot boxes. The Seoul Metropolitan Police announced that it will issue the 'gapho' emergency alert on Tuesday, the day of the presidential election. The gapho alert is the highest emergency level in the police's emergency response system and allows the mobilization of up to 100 percent of all available police personnel. According to police, the heightened measure was made after considering growing concerns over the increase in election-related crimes. 'As Election Day approaches, there are concerns about not only threats to candidates but about the public as well, including potential physical collisions between different supporters at campaign sites and the vandalism of election materials,' said the police. Police will deploy 21,700 personnel to provide security at polling and counting stations across the nation during Tuesday's presidential election. Armed police officers will be set to respond to certain situations, such as interference with the transport of ballot boxes, according to the police. It also added that mobile police squads used for crowd control will be stationed in the four key areas of Mapo-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu and Gangnam-gu to maintain public order until the ballot count is completed. Police temporarily banned the release of privately owned firearms until June 4 to ensure public safety to the fullest extent. It also vowed to conduct strict and prompt investigations into any election-related criminal activity. The National Fire Agency also announced that a total of 242 nationwide fire stations will go on two-day special emergency duty until the end of the June 3 presidential election. According to the agency, 464 fire trucks and close to 2,200 firefighters will be deployed at polling and counting stations across Korea to inspect electrical facilities to ensure proper operation. While a 24-hour monitoring system and on-site command system are set to ensure prompt responses in case of any incidents, firefighting personnel will also instruct building officials on how to respond to emergencies in the early stages. According to the agency, it will also secure emergency vehicle access routes around different polling and counting stations, and maintain emergency communication lines with the National Election Commission and the police. In response to the recent Seoul subway arson, Seoul Metro announced it would be implementing special safety management and strict security measures to prevent copycat crimes and handle potential contingencies on Tuesday. All 276 stations, trains and depots of Seoul Subway Line No. 1 through No. 8 will be checked. The subway operator will enhance CCTV monitoring of vulnerable areas, restrict access to key facilities and conduct 24-hour on-site patrols of subway facilities until the end of the June 3 presidential election. 'We will thoroughly inspect stations, trains and less visible areas to stop public anxiety and be fully prepared for any potential emergency situation,' the Seoul Metro official said on Monday.
Mint
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Nine Puzzles' becomes Disney+'s most-watched Korean series of 2025 within 9 days after its global premiere
Disney+ has announced that its latest Korean drama 'Nine Puzzles' has become the platform's most-watched Korean series globally in 2025. The gripping crime thriller reached this milestone just nine days after its debut on May 21. Starring 'The Witch's Kim Dami as Yoon E-na, 'Nine Puzzles' follows the story of a young woman whose life was changed by a shocking murder. As a high school student, E-na discovered her uncle's lifeless body at home, with a strange puzzle piece lying next to him. With no memory of how she got there, and being the only witness, she quickly became the prime suspect. Ten years later, E-na has transformed into a skilled criminal profiler working for the Seoul Metropolitan Police. But the trauma of her uncle's unsolved case still haunts her. When a new string of murders emerges—each one marked by the same type of puzzle piece—E-na is pulled back into the past. She must now work alongside Detective Kim Han-saem, played by 'My Liberation Notes' Son Sukku, who originally led the investigation into her uncle's death and still quietly questions her innocence. Directed by Yoon Jongbin and written by Lee Eunmi, the show features a strong supporting cast including Kim Sungkyun and Hyun Bongsik. 'Nine Puzzles' joins a growing list of Korean titles on Disney+, such as 'Unmasked' and 'Hyper Knife'. Upcoming releases include 'Low Life', a treasure-hunting adventure starring Ryu Seungryong, and 'Tempest', an international thriller featuring Gang Dongwon and John Cho. Another K-drama that is all set to be streamed on Disney+ in the second half of the year is 'The Manipulated'. Starring Ji Changwook and Do Kyungsoo, the release date of this show is yet to be announced. The series has captivated audiences with its suspenseful plot, emotional depth, and standout performances—making it a standout hit in Disney+'s global line-up.
Korea Herald
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Yoon supporters rally in rain, but turnout visibly smaller
A day after Yoon's ousting, Seoul's usual protest site sees fewer protesters A day after the Constitutional Court finalized President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from office, his supporters gathered at their usual protest spot – Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. However, their numbers were noticeably smaller, reflecting a clear loss of momentum. The pro-Yoon rally started at 1 p.m. amid rain, and its turnout was far smaller than the 30,000 attendees organizers had initially told authorities to expect, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police. A Korea Herald reporter at the scene, citing police stationed nearby, estimated that "fewer than 10,000 people" had gathered about 15 minutes before the rally started. Although the crowd grew after 1 p.m., it was still far smaller than previous gatherings. The Protestant organization Save Korea, which has been organizing massive rallies in support of Yoon since he set off a political storm on Dec. 3 with his short-lived martial law declaration, canceled its planned gathering of 20,000 people slated to take place in Yeouido at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Constitutional Court of Korea on Friday upheld Yoon's impeachment, ruling that he committed grave violations of democratic principles and the rule of law by declaring martial law last year. On that day, Seoul was on high alert for a potential flare-up of violence, mobilizing massive police forces and closing subway stations, schools, and cultural facilities near the court and city center in anticipation of large-scale protests. However, no major incidents occurred.
Korea Herald
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Farmers on tractors, trucks march on Seoul, calling for Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment
A convoy of tractors and trucks rolled into southern Seoul on Tuesday, as members of the Korean Peasants League held a protest calling for the impeachment of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. The protest was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Namtaeryeong Pass in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, where members of the Korean Peasants League — many of them farmers from rural provinces — gathered with flags and banners, chanting slogans demanding Yoon's immediate removal. The group announced plans to march toward Gwanghwamun in central Seoul, but was blocked by police at the pass, resulting in a standoff between protesters and police on the southern edge of Seoul as they entered from surrounding Gyeonggi Province. By Tuesday afternoon, traffic near Namtaeryeong began to slow, with farm vehicles and heavy trucks stuck on the roads, causing significant congestion along major routes in the area. The use of tractors in the protest, in particular, was a central point of dispute between the group and authorities. Earlier on Sunday, the Seoul Metropolitan Police announced it had issued a ban on the use of tractors in their march, citing concerns over public safety and traffic congestion. In response, the group filed for an injunction against the ban, and the court accepted their request — allowing up to 20 trucks through between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., but explicitly prohibiting tractors from entering the city. However, the Korean Peasants League criticized the decision as an excessive infringement of the freedom of assembly and moved ahead with both trucks and tractors as planned, defying the court's partial restriction. To maintain public order and prevent clashes between opposing protest groups, the Seoul Metropolitan Police also mobilized 27 mobile police squad units — totaling some 1,700 officers — with additional support from nine units dispatched by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police. 'The police will guarantee the freedom of assembly to the fullest extent within the boundaries permitted by the court,' the Seoul police said in a statement. 'However, any actions that go beyond what has been allowed will be met with strict enforcement based on law and principle.' According to official protest notices filed with the police, around 2,000 protesters calling for Yoon's impeachment and 3,000 opposing it were expected to participate in rallies throughout the day. Tuesday's rally marked the Korean Peasants League's second tractor-led protest in recent months. In late December, the group attempted to march to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong in a convoy of about 30 tractors, resulting in a 28-hour standoff with police at Namtaeryeong. Many people flocked to the site in the middle of the night to show solidarity with the farmers against what they said was an unfair use of the police's authority to protect the president, and they eventually marched to Hannam-dong. However, several leaders of the protest were later booked for investigation. With the Constitutional Court expected to deliver its ruling on Yoon's impeachment later this week or early next week, demonstrations from both sides are anticipated to remain intense at least until the verdict is announced.
