South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Monday called for diplomatic efforts to restore global trust amid the political turmoil sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration, which has drawn widespread international condemnation as democratic backsliding. "We must also be unremitting in our efforts to restore the trust of our partners and once again measure up to the expectations the international community has of Korea," Cho said during the senior

Foreign Affairs Dec. 9, 2024

The failed impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol, derailed by a lack of quorum on Saturday, has prompted sharp comparisons to the single vote that ousted President Park Geun-hye. The focus now shifts to why only three members of the ruling People Power Party defied the party’s boycott, particularly when just eight defections would have been enough to push Yoon’s impeachment forward with 200 votes out of the 300-member Assembly. The outcome is particularly notable given the

Politics Dec. 9, 2024

South Korea's diplomacy stands on shaky ground, as a leadership vacuum and the fallout from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law debacle threaten to derail key foreign policy priorities -- among them, his Global Pivotal State vision and values-driven diplomacy --while risking the undoing of hard-won achievements. The turmoil has also drained the country’s vanishing political capital, further weakening its ability to steer its foreign policy agenda. The Yoon administration was n

Foreign Affairs Dec. 8, 2024

North Korea is widely expected to remain silent amid South Korea's political turbulence, defined by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s survival of an impeachment motion on Saturday, followed by the ruling party’s announcement on Sunday calling for his "orderly early resignation." However, the prospect of Pyongyang exploiting South Korea's perceived political vulnerabilities through provocations cannot be ruled out. If Pyongyang remains tight-lipped, the decision will under

Politics Dec. 8, 2024

South Korea's 20th president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has become the country's third leader to face impeachment proceedings in the National Assembly, following former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun. As Yoon's political future hangs in the balance, the contrasting outcomes of Park and Roh's cases provide a framework for understanding how things might pan out. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea and its allied parties plan to bring the impeachment motion against Yoo

Politics Dec. 6, 2024

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held their first discussions on Friday since President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden and short-lived declaration of martial law, as the Biden administration has openly questioned its legitimacy in light of individual rights and liberties and voiced sharp criticism. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed domestic developments following Yoon's martial law declaration and exchanged views

Foreign Affairs Dec. 6, 2024

South Korea's diplomatic and security activities have been thrown into disarray following President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt and fleeting declaration of martial law, which has prompted the cancellation of visits by foreign delegations. The paralysis in South Korea's foreign and defense affairs is poised to intensify with the resignation of now-former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Wednesday, formally accepted by Yoon the following day, and the voluntary departure of Foreign Minis

Foreign Affairs Dec. 5, 2024

Key Biden administration officials voiced bewilderment and sharp criticism over President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden martial law declaration late Tuesday night, which they learned about only via television, raising serious concerns about democratic backsliding by Yoon, who was once praised as a host of the US-initiated Summit for Democracy. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell issued an uncharacteristically sharp rebuke of Yoon, condemning his declaration of martial law as "badly mis

Politics Dec. 5, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday named Choi Byung-hyuk, who has been serving as ambassador to Saudi Arabia since January and is a retired four-star Army general, as South Korea's new defense minister. Choi served as deputy commander of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command from 2019 to 2020. Prior to that, he held key posts, including commander of the 5th Corps and deputy chief of staff of the Army. Choi also held the position of president of the Korea Defense Veterans Association&r

Defense Dec. 5, 2024

The political upheaval sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s abrupt declaration of martial law -- issued without prior notice to the United States and rescinded just six hours later -- has heightened uncertainties in the South Korea-US alliance, already strained by Donald Trump's return to power. Leadership transitions in both Seoul and Washington amplify the turbulence. Even if Yoon survives the political storm, his foreign policy achievements -- outshining his domestic track record -

Foreign Affairs Dec. 4, 2024

Foreign missions in South Korea have swiftly reacted to President Yoon Suk Yeol's announcement lifting the emergency martial law declaration, advising their citizens to remain cautious and avoid participating in mass rallies as developments surrounding the situation continue to unfold. Only a few countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan, have issued official government responses to Yoon's declaration of martial law, delivered during a late-night televised ad

Foreign Affairs Dec. 4, 2024

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has convened a senior officials' meeting concerning the declaration of martial law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul. The announcement follows President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of emergency martial law during a surprise late-night TV address Tuesday. The emergency senior officials' meeting chaired by Cho commenced at 11:43 p.m. on Tuesday. A Foreign Ministry official in Seoul, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the min

Politics Dec. 3, 2024

Below is the full translation of President Yoon Suk Yeol's statement issued on Tuesday, announcing the declaration of emergency martial law. The National Assembly has so far proposed 22 motions to impeach government officials since the inauguration of the administration, and since the launch of the 22nd National Assembly in June, it is pursuing the impeachment of its 10th individual. This is a situation that is unprecedented not only in any country in the world but also since the founding o

Politics Dec. 3, 2024

Nearly one-third of respondents in a survey across eight countries identified North Korea's denuclearization as the most crucial step to achieve the unification of the Korean Peninsula, while over half of those surveyed said they believe Russia will provide no support for the unification process. The Unification Ministry on Tuesday unveiled the outcomes of its first-ever "Survey on Global Perception of Korean Unification," which polled 9,000 individuals aged 18 and older across ei

North Korea Dec. 3, 2024

The South Korean Embassy in Washington has hired Mercury Public Affairs, a lobbying firm formerly co-chaired by Donald Trump's incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, to shape Seoul's economic strategy and forge vital connections with Trump’s team ahead of his second term. The contract, finalized on Nov. 18 -- less than two weeks after the election results were confirmed -- became effective immediately and will remain in force through Dec. 31, 2024, according to the comp

Foreign Affairs Dec. 2, 2024