South Korea has elected Lee Jae-Myung as its new president after a snap election held just six months after the country faced one of its most turbulent political periods. With 93% of the votes counted, Lee secured 48.67% of the vote. His conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, conceded defeat and congratulated Lee.The vote followed months of unrest and the briefest martial law in the nation’s history. With voter turnout nearing 80%, the highest in 28 years, the public delivered a strong message for political change.<h2>Lee thanks voters, promises peace and stability</h2>Speaking to supporters in Seoul, Lee expressed gratitude and promised to push for peaceful dialogue with North Korea. He also committed to preventing future military interventions.“I thank the people for their support,” he said, adding that he would work towards unifying the country and ensure “another military coup or repeat of the martial law crisis does not take place.”Lee will be sworn in as president on Wednesday and will immediately assume office.<h2>A dramatic rise: Who is Lee Jae-myung?</h2>At 61, Lee Jae-myung has had a remarkable journey. Once a child labourer, he rose to become a human rights lawyer and key political figure in South Korea. He previously served as mayor of Seongnam for eight years and governor of Gyeonggi province for three years.In 2022, Lee narrowly lost the presidential election to Yoon Suk-yeol but stayed in politics as the opposition leader. Known for his progressive vision and criticism of inequality, corruption and gender gaps, Lee has often been labelled a populist by critics.<h2>Survived a stabbing and made headlines during martial law</h2>In 2024, Lee was stabbed in the neck during a visit to Busan. The attacker approached him pretending to ask for an autograph before launching the attack. He was quickly airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital and survived the life-threatening incident.Later that year, during South Korea’s martial law crisis, Lee gained widespread attention after livestreaming himself climbing the National Assembly walls to vote against the emergency decree. Despite military cordons, he reached the building and joined other lawmakers in a historic vote to end martial law. The video of his climb went viral and cemented his image as a determined political figure.

The vote followed months of unrest and the briefest martial law in the nation’s history. With voter turnout nearing 80%, the highest in 28 years, the public delivered a strong message for political change.

South Korea has elected Lee Jae-Myung as its new president after a snap election held just six months after the country faced one of its most turbulent political periods. With 93% of the votes counted, Lee secured 48.67% of the vote. His conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, conceded defeat and congratulated Lee. The vote followed months of unrest and the briefest martial law in the nation’s history. With voter turnout nearing 80%, the highest in 28 years, the public delivered a strong message for political change. Lee thanks voters, promises peace and stability Speaking to supporters in Seoul, Lee expressed gratitude and promised to push for peaceful dialogue with North Korea. He also committed to preventing future military interventions. “I thank the people for their support,” he said, adding that he would work towards unifying the country and ensure “another military coup or repeat of the martial law crisis does not take place.” Lee will be sworn in as president on Wednesday and will immediately assume office. A dramatic rise: Who is Lee Jae-myung? At 61, Lee Jae-myung has had a remarkable journey. Once a child labourer, he rose to become a human rights lawyer and key political figure in South Korea. He previously served as mayor of Seongnam for eight years and governor of Gyeonggi province for three years. In 2022, Lee narrowly lost the presidential election to Yoon Suk-yeol but stayed in politics as the opposition leader. Known for his progressive vision and criticism of inequality, corruption and gender gaps, Lee has often been labelled a populist by critics. Survived a stabbing and made headlines during martial law In 2024, Lee was stabbed in the neck during a visit to Busan. The attacker approached him pretending to ask for an autograph before launching the attack. He was quickly airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital and survived the life-threatening incident. Later that year, during South Korea’s martial law crisis, Lee gained widespread attention after livestreaming himself climbing the National Assembly walls to vote against the emergency decree. Despite military cordons, he reached the building and joined other lawmakers in a historic vote to end martial law. The video of his climb went viral and cemented his image as a determined political figure.

The vote followed months of unrest and the briefest martial law in the nation’s history. With voter turnout nearing 80%, the highest in 28 years, the public delivered a strong message for political change.

From defying martial law to surviving stabbing: Who is Lee Jae-myung? New South Korean president elected after snap elections

South Korea is all set to elect its new president on June 3 after former president &nbsp;Yoon Suk Yeol posted his efforts to impose martial law in the country in December 2024.&nbsp;The election also becomes crucial as South Korea is facing an unpredictable ally in the United States, Donald Trump. The winner of the election will not only have to manage the political and economic fallout after Yoon - but will also have to deal with challenges like threats from North Korea.&nbsp;As the country of &nbsp;52 million people moves ahead to choose a leader for the next five years, here's all you need to know.&nbsp;Why South Korea is witnessing a sudden election?&nbsp;The former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was supposed to serve the country till 2027. But, after his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country, his political career fell to pieces.&nbsp;On December 3, 2024, Yoon imposed martial law in the country claiming a threat from North Korea. However, people in the country protested the forceful implementation of the law and that became a turning point of his political career, not in a good way. Just a week later, Yoon was impeached by parliament. &nbsp;On 4 April, a constitutional court upheld his impeachment and removed him from office permanently. His removal from the post prompted the need for a snap election within 60 days in the country.&nbsp;During this entire span of six months, South Korea witnessed three acting presidents.Major issues in the election South Korea's new president will have to balance relations of the country with its biggest trading partner, China. They will also have to maintain the bond with its crucial security ally, US.&nbsp;The new president will also have to find a solution for the declining birth rate in the country, which is among the lowest in the world, at 0.75.&nbsp;Who is likely to be the next president?&nbsp;As per the latest poll, &nbsp;Lee Jae-Myung is ahead of the six candidates. He is a member of the Democratic Party, the main opposition party of Yoon.&nbsp;Lee ran for the presidential election in 2022 but was defeated by Yoon by just a razor-thin margin. He worked in a factory before he became a human rights lawyer and politician. He has promised to establish a "real Republic of Korea" with jobs and a fair society.&nbsp;The date of the election and results&nbsp;South Korea will go to polls on June 3 and voting precincts will be open from 06:00 local time (22:00 GMT) to 20:00.&nbsp;Results are expected to come in after polls close and the winner will likely be known in the early hours of the following day.&nbsp;When Yoon won the election in 2022, he was announced as the winner nine hours after the close of voting.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Poll schedule, result dates, and key issues: All you need to know ahead of South Korea election


South Korea is all set to elect its new president on June 3 after former president Yoon Suk Yeol posted his efforts to impose martial law in the country in December 2024. The election also becomes crucial as South Korea is facing an unpredictable ally in the United States, Donald Trump. The winner of the election will not only have to manage the political and economic fallout after Yoon - but will also have to deal with challenges like threats from North Korea. As the country of 52 million people moves ahead to choose a leader for the next five years, here's all you need to know. Why South Korea is witnessing a sudden election? The former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was supposed to serve the country till 2027. But, after his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country, his political career fell to pieces. On December 3, 2024, Yoon imposed martial law in the country claiming a threat from North Korea. However, people in the country protested the forceful implementation of the law and that became a turning point of his political career, not in a good way. Just a week later, Yoon was impeached by parliament. On 4 April, a constitutional court upheld his impeachment and removed him from office permanently. His removal from the post prompted the need for a snap election within 60 days in the country. During this entire span of six months, South Korea witnessed three acting presidents. Major issues in the election South Korea's new president will have to balance relations of the country with its biggest trading partner, China. They will also have to maintain the bond with its crucial security ally, US. The new president will also have to find a solution for the declining birth rate in the country, which is among the lowest in the world, at 0.75. Who is likely to be the next president? As per the latest poll, Lee Jae-Myung is ahead of the six candidates. He is a member of the Democratic Party, the main opposition party of Yoon. Lee ran for the presidential election in 2022 but was defeated by Yoon by just a razor-thin margin. He worked in a factory before he became a human rights lawyer and politician. He has promised to establish a "real Republic of Korea" with jobs and a fair society. The date of the election and results South Korea will go to polls on June 3 and voting precincts will be open from 06:00 local time (22:00 GMT) to 20:00. Results are expected to come in after polls close and the winner will likely be known in the early hours of the following day. When Yoon won the election in 2022, he was announced as the winner nine hours after the close of voting.

South Korea is all set to elect its new president on June 3 after former president &nbsp;Yoon Suk Yeol posted his efforts to impose martial law in the country in December 2024.

Poll schedule, result dates, and key issues: All you need to know ahead of South Korea election

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."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.

South Korean authorities have banned former prime minister Han Duck-soo and former finance minister Choi Sang-mok from travelling abroad due to an ongoing investigation into the December martial law of ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol

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. "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.

South Korean authorities have banned former prime minister Han Duck-soo and former finance minister Choi Sang-mok from travelling abroad due to an ongoing investigation into ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol's December martial law

South Korea slaps travel ban on two former acting presidents

Amid the struggle to save himself from getting arrested, South Korea's impeached&nbsp;President Yoon Suk Yeol has landed in another soup after his wife was accused of plagiarising her master's thesis. As per a report by South China Morning Post, a probe has been launched against Kim Keon-hee, the First Lady of South Korea, by Sookmyung Women's University in 2022. Kim has been accused of falsifying the thesis she submitted in 1999 to pursue a master's degree.&nbsp;
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The university presented the report to Kim in December 2024 2024, and&nbsp;she is expected to contest the findings by the end of January 2025, the news agency reported. It has been reported that if South Korea's First Lady decides to appeal against the university's decision, it will consider it before filing the final results.&nbsp;
<h3>Multiple controversies over Kim </h3>
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It's not the first time Kim has fallen into a controversy because of her academic credentials. Apart from facing allegations of stock market manipulation and interference in election nominations, she has been in the headlines for academic records since 2022.&nbsp;
South Korea's Kookmin University gave her a clean chit after a probe into her doctoral degree&nbsp;for months. She got that degree in 2008.
<h3>Personal life</h3>
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Kim majored in painting at Kyonggi University and earned her master's in art education. She later earned a PhD in digital content design. Despite the variations in her degrees, she continued to teach in various schools. In 2007, she founded a cultural content company called Covana Contents.&nbsp;
She married Yoon in 2012 when she was 40 and he was 52. In 2018, she claimed in an interview that she had known the impeached president for "a long time" but got married after the suggestion of a mutual friend.&nbsp;
The latest controversy came when Yoon was in political turmoil after he was impeached following his failed bid to impose martial law in the country.
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(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: Kim is facing allegations of having falsified her master's thesis. This accusation could have significant implications for her academic and professional reputation.

Amid the struggle to save himself from getting arrested, South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has landed in another soup after his wife was accused of plagiarising her master's thesis. As per a report by South China Morning Post, a probe has been launched against Kim Keon-hee, the First Lady of South Korea, by Sookmyung Women's University in 2022. Kim has been accused of falsifying the thesis she submitted in 1999 to pursue a master's degree. Also read | Chinese woman gives birth four hours after finding out she was pregnant The university presented the report to Kim in December 2024 2024, and she is expected to contest the findings by the end of January 2025, the news agency reported. It has been reported that if South Korea's First Lady decides to appeal against the university's decision, it will consider it before filing the final results. Multiple controversies over Kim Also read | World’s sick leave champion nation’s economic woes intensify It's not the first time Kim has fallen into a controversy because of her academic credentials. Apart from facing allegations of stock market manipulation and interference in election nominations, she has been in the headlines for academic records since 2022. South Korea's Kookmin University gave her a clean chit after a probe into her doctoral degree for months. She got that degree in 2008. Personal life Also read | US: Rhode Island man shoots seven-month pregnant wife, children in murder-suicide Kim majored in painting at Kyonggi University and earned her master's in art education. She later earned a PhD in digital content design. Despite the variations in her degrees, she continued to teach in various schools. In 2007, she founded a cultural content company called Covana Contents. She married Yoon in 2012 when she was 40 and he was 52. In 2018, she claimed in an interview that she had known the impeached president for "a long time" but got married after the suggestion of a mutual friend. The latest controversy came when Yoon was in political turmoil after he was impeached following his failed bid to impose martial law in the country. Also read | Indian men accused of killing Khalistani terrorist Nijjar released on bail by Canada court: Report (With inputs from agencies)

S Korean Prez Yoon Suk Yeol in doom loop after probe launched against wife for thesis 'plagiarism'

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee arrived in the United Kingdom for a three-day visit on Tuesday (Nov 21). The South Korean president will also be the first state visitor that King Charles III will be hosting since his coronation.

South Korean president kicks off historic UK visit as two countries work to strengthen ties

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as part of his official visit where he is expected to expand the sale of his country’s military equipment here.

On Sunday, Suk Yeol received an honour of guard welcome at Qasr Al Watan palace, where he was greeted by Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who assumed office in May after serving as the country's de facto ruler for years.

South Korea and UAE’s trade deals are worth billions of dollars, and the Asian country’s special forces troops have been stationed in UAE, an arrangement that drew criticism under his liberal predecessor.

It is believed that the South Korean leader’s visit is more focused towards the trade deals as the country’s military links with UAE have been sharply criticised.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted Sheikh Mohammed as saying that the UAE is looking to invest $30 billion in South Korea.

“We decided to make the investment with confidence in the Republic of Korea that keeps its promises under all circumstances,” he said.

However, the report did not elaborate on the details of the investment.

Before Yoon's trip began, South Korean officials described the visit as seeking to solidify the ties between the two countries.

“This visit will strengthen strategic co-operation with our brother country UAE in the four core cooperative sectors of nuclear power, energy, investment and defence,” Kim Sung-han, director of national security in Yoon’s government, said

Yonhap quoted an anonymous presidency official on Saturday saying that an arms deal was planned.

"The atmosphere is extremely ripe for security or military co-operation between South Korea and the UAE involving the arms industry,” the official reportedly said.

&nbsp;(With inputs from agencies)

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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as part of his official visit where he is expected to expand the sale of his country’s military equipment here.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as part of his official visit where he is expected to expand the sale of his country’s military equipment here. On Sunday, Suk Yeol received an honour of guard welcome at Qasr Al Watan palace, where he was greeted by Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who assumed office in May after serving as the country's de facto ruler for years. South Korea and UAE’s trade deals are worth billions of dollars, and the Asian country’s special forces troops have been stationed in UAE, an arrangement that drew criticism under his liberal predecessor. It is believed that the South Korean leader’s visit is more focused towards the trade deals as the country’s military links with UAE have been sharply criticised. South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted Sheikh Mohammed as saying that the UAE is looking to invest $30 billion in South Korea. “We decided to make the investment with confidence in the Republic of Korea that keeps its promises under all circumstances,” he said. However, the report did not elaborate on the details of the investment. Before Yoon's trip began, South Korean officials described the visit as seeking to solidify the ties between the two countries. “This visit will strengthen strategic co-operation with our brother country UAE in the four core cooperative sectors of nuclear power, energy, investment and defence,” Kim Sung-han, director of national security in Yoon’s government, said Yonhap quoted an anonymous presidency official on Saturday saying that an arms deal was planned. "The atmosphere is extremely ripe for security or military co-operation between South Korea and the UAE involving the arms industry,” the official reportedly said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

South Korean president arrives in UAE amidst focus on expanding arms sales

Moon appointee's 'privileged' daughter angers young South Koreans

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's nominee for justice minister may soon take office under the cloud of a prosecution enquiry and public outcry over a scandal that has reignited debate over class privilege.

At issue are scholarships and other perks granted to the daughter of the nominee, Cho Kuk, allegedly out of line with her academic performance.

The scandal has struck a chord in South Korea where young people, who compete furiously through school and university, are increasingly finding themselves scrambling for a dwindling number of positions in a slack job market, in a system they see as plagued by systemic unfairness and bias in favour of the elite.

The scandal surrounding Cho, who faced a parliament confirmation hearing on Friday, has caused a media sensation and sparked protests since Moon nominated him in early August.

At the hearing on Friday, Cho did not deny his daughter's academic perks and expressed his "deepest apologies to the younger generation" for the disappointment that he caused them.

But he said his responsibility was to complete the reform of the justice ministry and prosecution, and would consider a way to make amends to young people who don't have the same opportunities.

His 28-year-old daughter has not been identified in South Korean media and she has made no public comment on the controversy.

Students at South Korea's top universities, including Seoul National University (SNU) where Cho is a professor of law, have held candlelight demonstrations calling for him to give up the nomination, reminiscent of the protests that swept Moon into power in 2017.

"She had opportunities that a typical high school, college student would not even be able to see, just because she is the child of the privileged class," Do Jung-geun, SNU student council president, said of Cho's daughter.

Some of the allegations against Cho's daughter that have drawn the most ire include her being named as first author of a medical paper in the Korea Journal of Pathology in 2009 when she was still in high school and had just completed a two-week internship at Dankook University's institute of medical science.

She also failed her exams at Pusan National University's medical school twice, according to school records, but not only kept her place but got scholarships worth a total of 12 million won ($9,900) over six semesters between 2016 and 2018.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has opened an investigation into unspecified allegations against Cho's family with a series of raids into dozens of related offices late last month, including the universities involved in the allegations.

The prosecutors' office declined to comment.

If appointed, Cho would oversee the prosecutors' office, but he has vowed not to receive reports on any investigation into his family.

Progressive disappointment

The scandal has been a particular disappointment to the young people who supported Moon and his party when he became president.

The liberal Moon took office in 2017 after the impeachment for corruption of his conservative predecessor, who came from one of South Korea's most prominent political families.

Moon promised change.

"Opportunities will be equal, processes will be fair, and results will be just," he said.

At the time, Cho was seen as a vocal champion of progressive causes who had spoken out against elitism.

"Cho should listen to those disappointed by his hypocritical naked face," said Shin Seong-min, student council president of the College of Education at SNU.

Moon's ratings have been sliding, with the Cho scandal the latest issue to undermine his support.

In the latest poll of 1,002 people by Gallup Korea in Sept. 3-5, 49 per cent said they disapproved of Moon's work; 21 per cent of them said Moon's decision to appoint Cho was the reason for their disapproval, up 6 percentage points from the previous week. It was the second-highest reason for disapproval, after the sagging economy, at 22 per cent.

More than 70 per cent of South Korean high school graduates entered college, according to the latest government data, but one out of 10 South Koreans between the age of 15 and 29 were unemployed as of July, the highest youth unemployment rate in 20 years.

"For South Koreans, fairness means fairness of opportunity," said Jeong Han-wool, senior researcher at Hankook Research, an opinion survey firm.

"Those in their 20s, who feel the most fatigue from competition out of all South Koreans, seem to be angry because they see this as symbol of what they had suspected all along - that they are living in a 'league of their own' society where opportunities are not allotted by contribution or ability, but circumstances outside their control."

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's nominee for justice minister may soon take office under the cloud of a prosecution enquiry and public outcry over a scandal that has reignited debate over class privilege.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's nominee for justice minister may soon take office under the cloud of a prosecution enquiry and public outcry over a scandal that has reignited debate over class privilege. At issue are scholarships and other perks granted to the daughter of the nominee, Cho Kuk, allegedly out of line with her academic performance. The scandal has struck a chord in South Korea where young people, who compete furiously through school and university, are increasingly finding themselves scrambling for a dwindling number of positions in a slack job market, in a system they see as plagued by systemic unfairness and bias in favour of the elite. The scandal surrounding Cho, who faced a parliament confirmation hearing on Friday, has caused a media sensation and sparked protests since Moon nominated him in early August. At the hearing on Friday, Cho did not deny his daughter's academic perks and expressed his "deepest apologies to the younger generation" for the disappointment that he caused them. But he said his responsibility was to complete the reform of the justice ministry and prosecution, and would consider a way to make amends to young people who don't have the same opportunities. His 28-year-old daughter has not been identified in South Korean media and she has made no public comment on the controversy. Students at South Korea's top universities, including Seoul National University (SNU) where Cho is a professor of law, have held candlelight demonstrations calling for him to give up the nomination, reminiscent of the protests that swept Moon into power in 2017. "She had opportunities that a typical high school, college student would not even be able to see, just because she is the child of the privileged class," Do Jung-geun, SNU student council president, said of Cho's daughter. Some of the allegations against Cho's daughter that have drawn the most ire include her being named as first author of a medical paper in the Korea Journal of Pathology in 2009 when she was still in high school and had just completed a two-week internship at Dankook University's institute of medical science. She also failed her exams at Pusan National University's medical school twice, according to school records, but not only kept her place but got scholarships worth a total of 12 million won ($9,900) over six semesters between 2016 and 2018. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has opened an investigation into unspecified allegations against Cho's family with a series of raids into dozens of related offices late last month, including the universities involved in the allegations. The prosecutors' office declined to comment. If appointed, Cho would oversee the prosecutors' office, but he has vowed not to receive reports on any investigation into his family. Progressive disappointment The scandal has been a particular disappointment to the young people who supported Moon and his party when he became president. The liberal Moon took office in 2017 after the impeachment for corruption of his conservative predecessor, who came from one of South Korea's most prominent political families. Moon promised change. "Opportunities will be equal, processes will be fair, and results will be just," he said. At the time, Cho was seen as a vocal champion of progressive causes who had spoken out against elitism. "Cho should listen to those disappointed by his hypocritical naked face," said Shin Seong-min, student council president of the College of Education at SNU. Moon's ratings have been sliding, with the Cho scandal the latest issue to undermine his support. In the latest poll of 1,002 people by Gallup Korea in Sept. 3-5, 49 per cent said they disapproved of Moon's work; 21 per cent of them said Moon's decision to appoint Cho was the reason for their disapproval, up 6 percentage points from the previous week. It was the second-highest reason for disapproval, after the sagging economy, at 22 per cent. More than 70 per cent of South Korean high school graduates entered college, according to the latest government data, but one out of 10 South Koreans between the age of 15 and 29 were unemployed as of July, the highest youth unemployment rate in 20 years. "For South Koreans, fairness means fairness of opportunity," said Jeong Han-wool, senior researcher at Hankook Research, an opinion survey firm. "Those in their 20s, who feel the most fatigue from competition out of all South Koreans, seem to be angry because they see this as symbol of what they had suspected all along - that they are living in a 'league of their own' society where opportunities are not allotted by contribution or ability, but circumstances outside their control."

Moon Jae-in appointee's 'privileged' daughter angers young South Koreans

South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived for talks with US President Donald Trump on Thursday (April 11) hoping to help put denuclearization negotiations with North Korea back on track after a failed summit between the United States and North Korean leaders in February.

South Korean president meets Trump hoping to revive North Korea talks

South Korean President Moon Jae-in Thursday told Donald Trump that he plans to send a special envoy to Pyongyang, his office said, the latest in the Olympic-driven detente between the two Koreas.

An intense rapprochement saw the two Koreas march into the Games opening ceremony together behind a unification flag, and Moon shared a historic handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s sister Kim Yo Jong.

&quot;In response to the visit by North Korea&#39;s special envoy Kim Yo Jong, ... Moon conveyed to Trump his plans to dispatch a special envoy to the North soon,&quot; Seoul&#39;s presidential office said in a statement following their phone conversation.

The two presidents also &quot;agreed to maintain the momentum in inter-Korean dialogue and to continue efforts so it leads to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula,&quot; it said.

Moon has sought to use the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics that ended Sunday to open dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang in the hopes of easing a nuclear standoff that has sparked global security fears.

Pyongyang mounted a charm offensive during the Games, sending athletes, cheerleaders and high-level delegations following months of tensions over its nuclear and missile programmes.

Moon, who advocates dialogue with the North to defuse tension, said on Monday that Washington needs to &quot;lower the threshold for talks&quot; with the North.&nbsp;

In a meeting with North Korean General Kim Yong Chol on Sunday, Moon also urged the North to open dialogue with the US as soon as possible -- to which Kim responded by saying the North was &quot;very willing&quot; to hold talks.

But the US has ruled out any possibility of talks before Pyongyang -- which last year staged multiple missile and nuclear tests -- takes steps towards denuclearisation.

There was no known interaction between the North and the US during the Games and Washington last week imposed what Trump described as the &quot;heaviest ever&quot; sanctions on the isolated regime.

The two presidents also 'agreed to maintain the momentum in inter-Korean dialogue and to continue efforts so it leads to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula'

South Korean President Moon Jae-in Thursday told Donald Trump that he plans to send a special envoy to Pyongyang, his office said, the latest in the Olympic-driven detente between the two Koreas. An intense rapprochement saw the two Koreas march into the Games opening ceremony together behind a unification flag, and Moon shared a historic handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong. "In response to the visit by North Korea's special envoy Kim Yo Jong, ... Moon conveyed to Trump his plans to dispatch a special envoy to the North soon," Seoul's presidential office said in a statement following their phone conversation. The two presidents also "agreed to maintain the momentum in inter-Korean dialogue and to continue efforts so it leads to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula," it said. Moon has sought to use the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics that ended Sunday to open dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang in the hopes of easing a nuclear standoff that has sparked global security fears. Pyongyang mounted a charm offensive during the Games, sending athletes, cheerleaders and high-level delegations following months of tensions over its nuclear and missile programmes. Moon, who advocates dialogue with the North to defuse tension, said on Monday that Washington needs to "lower the threshold for talks" with the North. In a meeting with North Korean General Kim Yong Chol on Sunday, Moon also urged the North to open dialogue with the US as soon as possible -- to which Kim responded by saying the North was "very willing" to hold talks. But the US has ruled out any possibility of talks before Pyongyang -- which last year staged multiple missile and nuclear tests -- takes steps towards denuclearisation. There was no known interaction between the North and the US during the Games and Washington last week imposed what Trump described as the "heaviest ever" sanctions on the isolated regime.

Will send special envoy to North Korea: South Korea to Trump

A day after officials from both the Koreas met at the Peace House of Panmunjom truce village, South Korean President, Moon Jae-In, announced his plan to hold a summit with his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-Un.&nbsp;

He was willing to hold a summit &quot;at any time&quot;, he said, as long as it was &quot;under the right conditions&quot;.

&quot;It is only the beginning,&quot; Moon told a press conference Wednesday. &quot;Yesterday was the first step and I think we had a good start,&quot; Moon added.&nbsp;

Moon expressed his desire to discuss denuclearisation with North Korea.&nbsp;

&quot;But it cannot be a meeting for meeting&#39;s sake. To hold a summit, the right conditions must be created and certain outcomes must be guaranteed,&quot; he noted.

Earlier on Tuesday, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-hails-korea-talks-despite-norths-rejection-of-denuclearisation-29057">US President Donald Trump hailed the &#39;Korea meet</a>&#39; describing it as an event that may resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.&nbsp;

The Pyongyang regime has also decided to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-to-attend-olympics-in-rival-south-29052">send its athletes to the Winter Olympics</a> in the South.

The South Korean President has been lobbying to bring its Northern counterpart to discuss banned weapons programmes.&nbsp;

Moon insisted that his regime does not differ in opinion with the US and that they &quot;shared an understanding about security, were working together and were both threatened by the North&#39;s nuclear weapons and missiles.&quot;

The United States, on the other hand, has called for the North Korean regime to halt its nuclear testing to facilitate any ties with the Trump administration.&nbsp;

Moon also noted that &quot;stronger sanctions and pressures (on North Korea) could further heighten tensions and lead to accidental armed conflicts&quot;. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

He (Kim Jong-Un) was willing to hold a summit 'at any time', Moon said

A day after officials from both the Koreas met at the Peace House of Panmunjom truce village, South Korean President, Moon Jae-In, announced his plan to hold a summit with his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-Un. He was willing to hold a summit "at any time", he said, as long as it was "under the right conditions". "It is only the beginning," Moon told a press conference Wednesday. "Yesterday was the first step and I think we had a good start," Moon added. Moon expressed his desire to discuss denuclearisation with North Korea. "But it cannot be a meeting for meeting's sake. To hold a summit, the right conditions must be created and certain outcomes must be guaranteed," he noted. Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump hailed the 'Korea meet' describing it as an event that may resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. The Pyongyang regime has also decided to send its athletes to the Winter Olympics in the South. The South Korean President has been lobbying to bring its Northern counterpart to discuss banned weapons programmes. Moon insisted that his regime does not differ in opinion with the US and that they "shared an understanding about security, were working together and were both threatened by the North's nuclear weapons and missiles." The United States, on the other hand, has called for the North Korean regime to halt its nuclear testing to facilitate any ties with the Trump administration. Moon also noted that "stronger sanctions and pressures (on North Korea) could further heighten tensions and lead to accidental armed conflicts". (With inputs from AFP)

South Korean President willing to hold summit with North Korea's Kim

South Korea&#39;s Constitutional Court on Thursday began its deliberations on a parliamentary impeachment vote against President Park Geun-hye, who could become the first elected South Korean leader to be thrown out of office.

Park was indicted in a December 9 parliamentary vote by a wider-than-expected margin after being accused of colluding with a friend to pressure big businesses to make contributions to non-profit foundations backing presidential initiatives.

Park, whose father ruled the country for 18 years after seizing power in a 1961 coup, has denied wrongdoing but apologised for carelessness in her ties with the friend, Choi Soon-sil, who is facing her own trial.

Neither Park nor Choi appeared in court on Thursday when judges decided to admit prosecutors&#39; investigation documents, in an early setback for Park&#39;s defence team, which had tried to block them. Although stripped of her presidential powers, which are being wielded by the prime minister, Park retains her title and her official residence.

She is serving a single five-year term which is set to end in February 2018, and has presidential immunity but risks facing prosecution after leaving office.

Park&#39;s popularity has sunk to near record lows since the influence-peddling scandal blew up, but many South Koreans already had doubts about her leadership, partly because of a 2014 ferry disaster in which 300 people, most of them school children, were killed.

The Court raised that accident on Thursday, asking that Park account for her activities during a seven-hour period when the disaster was unfolding, and when her critics believe she was negligent.

&quot;We request the claimee report where she was in the Blue House, during the seven hours that has become an issue, exactly what work she was engaged in,&quot; one of the court&#39;s nine judges, Lee Jinsung, said, referring to the presidential compound in the capital, Seoul.

The court also identified Park&#39;s friend, Choi, and two former Blue House officials, An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong, as witnesses in the hearing. Park&#39;s lawyers said earlier the vote to impeach her had no legal basis and the court should throw the case out. The court said it would hold the next preparatory hearing on December 27.

(Reuters)

Park has denied wrongdoing, but is accused of colluding with a friend to secure donations for her NGO

South Korea's Constitutional Court on Thursday began its deliberations on a parliamentary impeachment vote against President Park Geun-hye, who could become the first elected South Korean leader to be thrown out of office. Park was indicted in a December 9 parliamentary vote by a wider-than-expected margin after being accused of colluding with a friend to pressure big businesses to make contributions to non-profit foundations backing presidential initiatives. Park, whose father ruled the country for 18 years after seizing power in a 1961 coup, has denied wrongdoing but apologised for carelessness in her ties with the friend, Choi Soon-sil, who is facing her own trial. Neither Park nor Choi appeared in court on Thursday when judges decided to admit prosecutors' investigation documents, in an early setback for Park's defence team, which had tried to block them. Although stripped of her presidential powers, which are being wielded by the prime minister, Park retains her title and her official residence. She is serving a single five-year term which is set to end in February 2018, and has presidential immunity but risks facing prosecution after leaving office. Park's popularity has sunk to near record lows since the influence-peddling scandal blew up, but many South Koreans already had doubts about her leadership, partly because of a 2014 ferry disaster in which 300 people, most of them school children, were killed. The Court raised that accident on Thursday, asking that Park account for her activities during a seven-hour period when the disaster was unfolding, and when her critics believe she was negligent. "We request the claimee report where she was in the Blue House, during the seven hours that has become an issue, exactly what work she was engaged in," one of the court's nine judges, Lee Jinsung, said, referring to the presidential compound in the capital, Seoul. The court also identified Park's friend, Choi, and two former Blue House officials, An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong, as witnesses in the hearing. Park's lawyers said earlier the vote to impeach her had no legal basis and the court should throw the case out. The court said it would hold the next preparatory hearing on December 27. (Reuters)

South Korean court begins President Park's impeachment trial

Jubilant South Koreans celebrated with cheers, hugs and selfies on Friday, after lawmakers voted to impeach embattled President Park Geun-hye over an influence-pedalling scandal that had drawn huge crowds to weekly protests demanding she step down.

The impeachment motion, passed by 234 lawmakers with 56 opposed, suspends Park&#39;s powers and leaves the Constitutional Court to decide whether to uphold the motion and remove Park from office or reject it and reinstate her.

A large crowd of demonstrators gathered outside parliament in anticipation of the outcome greeted the news with cheers.

&quot;I feel great!&quot; said 54-year-old rice farmer Im Chae-jum. &quot;I thought it was going to pass but, either way, whatever happens in parliament, we&#39;ll take Park Geun-hye down with people power. The people won!&quot;

Park&#39;s approval rating stood at just five&nbsp;per cent in a poll released earlier on Friday.

Protesters waved banners and flags as they climbed on a tractor that some farmers had used to block a road outside parliament.

Others took selfies before a large banner reading, &quot;Congratulations on the impeachment of Park Geun-hye; Now let&#39;s lock her up&quot;.

Several people blew horns or held up signs that read, &quot;Victory for the people!&quot;

Choi Ji-young, the mother of a child who died in the 2014 Sewol ferry tragedy, watched the vote from a gallery in the assembly. She was among a group of victims&#39; relatives, who danced and chanted as they left the building.

&quot;I screamed &#39;Hooray!&#39;&quot; said Choi. &quot;This&#39;ll be a chance to get to the bottom of the disaster and hold Park and her close aides accountable.&quot;

The events around the ferry sinking, which killed more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren, have loomed over Park&#39;s presidency.

Protesters have staged massive demonstrations in central Seoul every Saturday for the last six weeks of the political crisis that rocked Park&#39;s presidency.

The protests have remained festive and peaceful, centred on large, candle-lit rallies that have drawn up to a million people, by some estimates. Another was planned for Saturday.

Park, 64, is accused of colluding with a friend and a former aide, both of whom have been indicted by prosecutors, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.

&quot;Now I feel good,&quot; said Choi, holding a red rose wrapped in a yellow ribbon, a symbol of the protests against Park. &quot;She should go to jail.&quot;

(Reuters)

South Koreans celebrated with cheers, hugs and selfies on Friday, after lawmakers voted to impeach embattled President Park Geun-hye

Jubilant South Koreans celebrated with cheers, hugs and selfies on Friday, after lawmakers voted to impeach embattled President Park Geun-hye over an influence-pedalling scandal that had drawn huge crowds to weekly protests demanding she step down. The impeachment motion, passed by 234 lawmakers with 56 opposed, suspends Park's powers and leaves the Constitutional Court to decide whether to uphold the motion and remove Park from office or reject it and reinstate her. A large crowd of demonstrators gathered outside parliament in anticipation of the outcome greeted the news with cheers. "I feel great!" said 54-year-old rice farmer Im Chae-jum. "I thought it was going to pass but, either way, whatever happens in parliament, we'll take Park Geun-hye down with people power. The people won!" Park's approval rating stood at just five per cent in a poll released earlier on Friday. Protesters waved banners and flags as they climbed on a tractor that some farmers had used to block a road outside parliament. Others took selfies before a large banner reading, "Congratulations on the impeachment of Park Geun-hye; Now let's lock her up". Several people blew horns or held up signs that read, "Victory for the people!" Choi Ji-young, the mother of a child who died in the 2014 Sewol ferry tragedy, watched the vote from a gallery in the assembly. She was among a group of victims' relatives, who danced and chanted as they left the building. "I screamed 'Hooray!'" said Choi. "This'll be a chance to get to the bottom of the disaster and hold Park and her close aides accountable." The events around the ferry sinking, which killed more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren, have loomed over Park's presidency. Protesters have staged massive demonstrations in central Seoul every Saturday for the last six weeks of the political crisis that rocked Park's presidency. The protests have remained festive and peaceful, centred on large, candle-lit rallies that have drawn up to a million people, by some estimates. Another was planned for Saturday. Park, 64, is accused of colluding with a friend and a former aide, both of whom have been indicted by prosecutors, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives. "Now I feel good," said Choi, holding a red rose wrapped in a yellow ribbon, a symbol of the protests against Park. "She should go to jail." (Reuters)

South Koreans celebrate impeachment of President Park

The woman at the centre of the snowballing political scandal engulfing South Korean President Park Geun-Hye is a &quot;flight risk&quot; and has been placed under emergency detention, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Choi Soon-Sil, who faces allegations of fraud and meddling in state affairs over her decades-long friendship with Park, was grilled for hours Monday after she returned to the country and handed herself in.

&quot;There is possibility of Choi trying to destroy evidence as she is denying all the allegations,&quot; a prosecution official told the Yonhap news agency, explaining the decision to hold her for 48 hours.

&quot;She has fled overseas in the past, and she doesn&#39;t have a permanent address in this country, making her a flight risk.

&quot;She is also in an extremely unstable psychological state, and it&#39;s possible an unexpected event could occur if she is released,&quot; the official added.

Park and Choi have been close friends for 40 years. The precise nature of that friendship lies at the heart of the current scandal which has triggered a media frenzy in South Korea, with lurid reports of religious cults and shamanistic rituals.

The media has portrayed the 60-year-old Choi as a Rasputin-like figure, who wielded an unhealthy influence over Park and interfered in government policy despite holding no official post and having no security clearance.

Suggestions that Choi vetted presidential speeches and was given access to classified documents has exposed Park to public anger and ridicule and, with just over a year left in office, pushed her approval ratings off a cliff.

Choi has also been accused of using her relationship with the President to coerce corporate donations to two non-profit foundations, and then siphon off funds for personal use.

Park issued a public apology last week, acknowledging seeking limited advice from Choi on her speeches.

But it did little to assuage public outrage, with mass street protests erupting in Seoul and other cities to demand Park&#39;s resignation.

Park carried out a partial reshuffle of her key aides accused of being linked to Choi on Sunday.

She is considering calls from her ruling Saenuri Party to form a neutral multi-party cabinet to restore public trust and national unity.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has stopped short of demanding the President&#39;s resignation.

But it is refusing to begin cross-party talks on how to end the crisis until the investigation into Choi has run its course.

Under South Korea&#39;s constitutional law, an incumbent president is exempt from being submitted to prosecution for any criminal offense.

(AFP)

Choi Soon-Sil, a friend of President Park Geun-Hye, is accused of meddling in state affairs

The woman at the centre of the snowballing political scandal engulfing South Korean President Park Geun-Hye is a "flight risk" and has been placed under emergency detention, prosecutors said on Tuesday. Choi Soon-Sil, who faces allegations of fraud and meddling in state affairs over her decades-long friendship with Park, was grilled for hours Monday after she returned to the country and handed herself in. "There is possibility of Choi trying to destroy evidence as she is denying all the allegations," a prosecution official told the Yonhap news agency, explaining the decision to hold her for 48 hours. "She has fled overseas in the past, and she doesn't have a permanent address in this country, making her a flight risk. "She is also in an extremely unstable psychological state, and it's possible an unexpected event could occur if she is released," the official added. Park and Choi have been close friends for 40 years. The precise nature of that friendship lies at the heart of the current scandal which has triggered a media frenzy in South Korea, with lurid reports of religious cults and shamanistic rituals. The media has portrayed the 60-year-old Choi as a Rasputin-like figure, who wielded an unhealthy influence over Park and interfered in government policy despite holding no official post and having no security clearance. Suggestions that Choi vetted presidential speeches and was given access to classified documents has exposed Park to public anger and ridicule and, with just over a year left in office, pushed her approval ratings off a cliff. Choi has also been accused of using her relationship with the President to coerce corporate donations to two non-profit foundations, and then siphon off funds for personal use. Park issued a public apology last week, acknowledging seeking limited advice from Choi on her speeches. But it did little to assuage public outrage, with mass street protests erupting in Seoul and other cities to demand Park's resignation. Park carried out a partial reshuffle of her key aides accused of being linked to Choi on Sunday. She is considering calls from her ruling Saenuri Party to form a neutral multi-party cabinet to restore public trust and national unity. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has stopped short of demanding the President's resignation. But it is refusing to begin cross-party talks on how to end the crisis until the investigation into Choi has run its course. Under South Korea's constitutional law, an incumbent president is exempt from being submitted to prosecution for any criminal offense. (AFP)

Woman at centre of South Korean political crisis detained

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