Ruling party push to revise Amnesty Act raises constitutional questions

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is pushing to revise the Amnesty Act to make it more difficult to pardon those found guilty of insurrection or treason. While the party says the revision is needed to ensure insurrection is punished, critics say the move lacks justification and that the proposed revision does not address potential issues with the president’s power to grant pardons. With approval from the Legislative and Judiciary Committee, passing a vote in a plenary session is the last rema

Feb. 23, 2026

PSS obtains US patents on AI-based X-ray screening technology

The Presidential Security Service said Sunday that it has obtained US patents for its indigenous artificial intelligence-based X-ray screening technology designed to detect hazardous materials. Two state-owned patents registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office each cover technology that uses X-ray equipment to detect hazardous substances, such as sulfuric acid, and algorithms that enable the system to operate using AI. The patents were granted after about three years of review, the agenc

Feb. 22, 2026

100-day local election countdown begins

Political parties are preparing to vie for votes, as the June 3 local elections approach, with the number of parliamentary by-elections likely to grow as lawmakers seek local government posts. The elections — so far for four parliamentary seats as well as mayors, governors, education superintendents and thousands of councilors — are seen as a litmus test of public sentiment toward the Lee Jae Myung administration. One of the key battlegrounds in the National Assembly is to be the Gyeyang B const

Feb. 22, 2026

Lee questions why Korean media sought US view on Yoon verdict

President Lee Jae Myung pushed back against news reports highlighting comments from US officials on the life sentence imposed on former President Yoon Suk Yeol, directing his criticism at the media. “The core issue is that some Korean media are turning to a foreign government for comments on Korea’s internal affairs,” Lee wrote on his X account. “Why would (these media outlets) ask for a foreign government’s stance on domestic affairs, especially on a court decision that is independent of politi

Feb. 22, 2026

Protests by conservative, progressive groups erupt following Yoon’s verdict

Following the verdict sentencing former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for his brief imposition of martial law late on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, protests by both conservative and liberal groups erupted across Seoul over the weekend. A far-right group led by Sarang Jeil Church held a protest at Gwanghwamun on Saturday. The church was founded by head pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, who was arrested in connection with a riot at the Seoul Western District Court when an arrest warrant was issued

Feb. 22, 2026

S. Korea to closely monitor additional US measures following Supreme Court ruling on Trump's tariffs

South Korea will closely monitor additional US measures and the trade environment as US President Donald Trump signed an order to impose a new 10 percent "global tariff" on all countries following the US Supreme Court's ruling against his emergency tariffs, Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday. Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, presided over an interministerial meeting to discuss the government's response after the US high court ruled Fr

Feb. 21, 2026

National Assembly to process US investment bill as planned: lawmakers

Rival parties confirmed Saturday proceeding with remaining procedures to process the legislation on South Korea's investment pledges to the United States as planned, regardless of the recent ruling on President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. "(The ruling) does not seem to constitute a requirement that can cancel South Korea's investments to the United States," said Rep. Kim Sang-hoon of the opposition People Power Party (PPP), who also heads a special committee on the legislation. "We plan to

Feb. 21, 2026

Lee's office dismisses Korea Forest Service chief over 'unlawful' act

President Lee Jae Myung has dismissed the minister of the Korea Forest Service, Kim In-ho, after he was found to have committed an unlawful act, Lee's office said Saturday, without further elaborating. "We have found that the minister of the Korea Forest Service caused trouble by committing a serious violation to existing laws, and decided to dismiss him from the post," Lee's office said. The presidential office did not elaborate on what specific law Kim violated but warned it will react sternly

Feb. 21, 2026

Presidential office to hold meeting on Trump tariff ruling

The presidential office was set to hold a meeting Saturday to assess the impact of the US Supreme Court's ruling on the Trump administration's tariffs and discuss future action plans, officials said. The meeting, scheduled in the afternoon, will be presided over by Kim Yong-bum, the presidential chief of staff for policy, and Wi Sung-lac, the country's national security adviser, and attended by officials from relevant ministries, according to the officials. "The government plans to comprehensive

Feb. 21, 2026

Parliamentary subcommittee approves bill preventing presidential pardons for insurrection

A parliamentary subcommittee led by the ruling party on Friday approved a bill aimed at preventing presidential pardons for individuals convicted of insurrection. The subcommittee of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee passed an amendment to the Pardon Act that would prohibit or restrict pardons for those found guilty of insurrection or offenses against the state. The amendment was approved under the leadership of the Democratic Party after lawmakers from the main opposit

Feb. 20, 2026

Investigators request arrest warrant for graduate student allegedly behind drone flights to N. Korea

Investigators said Friday they have requested an arrest warrant for a graduate student allegedly behind recent drone flights to North Korea. The 30-something student, surnamed Oh, is suspected of sending drones to North Korea four times to test their performance with the aim of making a profit from a drone business, according to the police. The drones were set up to depart from Ganghwa Island in Incheon, west of Seoul, and fly over North Korea's Kaesong and Pyongsan before returning to Paju, nor

Feb. 20, 2026

Ruling party claims Yoon Suk Yeol's sentence falls short

Ruling party politicians slammed Thursday's decision by the Seoul Central District Court to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for insurrection, rather than the death penalty. Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chair Rep. Jung Chung-rae claimed that the Seoul Central District Court's ruling stems from a misinterpretation of how Yoon's self-coup attempt failed. The sentence left the possibility of Yoon being granted clemency in the future, he said, though Korea has not actual

Feb. 19, 2026

Lee calls for permanent measures against repeat antitrust offenders

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for regulators to consider permanently expelling repeat cartel offenders who abuse market dominance through collusion. Lee ordered a broader crackdown on what he called “entrenched, antimarket cartels” across the broader economy and industrial sectors from sugar, flour and meat to school uniforms and real estate. Lee underscored that “heavy sanctions that far exceed the gains from collusion must follow” during a meeting of senior presidential aides at C

Feb. 19, 2026

Ruling party eyes passage of judicial reform bill next week

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is seeking to pass judicial reform bills before the expected completion of plenary sessions at the end of the month. The proposed changes include almost doubling the number of Supreme Court justices, making Supreme Court rulings no longer final and binding, and penalizing officials in the criminal justice system who wrongly interpret the law when charging or convicting someone. Rep. Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said Thursday in a party

Feb. 19, 2026

Will S. Korea begin hiring foreign students in 'nonprofessional' fields soon?

South Korea is moving toward revising its migrant worker visa system, as lawmakers propose expanding job options for foreign students and the government reviews broader changes to related visa laws. Reps. Kim Wi-sang and Kim So-hee of the main opposition People Power Party introduced separate revision bills that would expand employment options for foreign students and recent graduates. Their proposals would permit those who entered South Korea on D-2 student visas to work in what Korea calls "no

Feb. 17, 2026