Rappler's latest stories on South Korea Politics
Dozens of South Korean MPs charged over parliamentary standoff
Seoul prosecutors indict Liberty Korea party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn and 23 of his MPs on charges including causing a commotion at the national assembly and illegal detention
South Korean ex-president Park's sentence extended
The decision by the Seoul High Court means the former head of state, who was ousted after a sprawling corruption scandal triggered mass protests, faces 25 years in jail
South Korea ex-president Park jailed for 24 years over corruption
The sentence follows a trial lasting more than 10 months which ended with Park Geun-hye being found guilty on multiple criminal charges, including bribery and abuse of power
North Korean Olympic ice hockey players arrive in South
The North is contributing 12 players to the unified Korea ice hockey squad
South Korea swoons as megastar from the North visits
North Korean singer Hyon Song-Wol sweeps through Seoul at the head of a North Korean delegation sent to inspect performance venues for the Pyeongchang Olympic Games
Special sauce and tricky prawn on Trump's South Korea menu
A special sauce more than a century older than the United States will be on the menu for Donald Trump at his state banquet in Seoul – along with a diplomatically tricky prawn
North Korea fires ballistic missile over Japan
UPDATED No North Korean missile had overflown Japan for years and the launch comes after a strained period on the peninsula following Pyongyang s testing of two intercontinental ballistic missiles ICBMs last month
Samsung heir guilty of bribery, sentenced to 5 years jail
3rd UPDATE Lee Jae Yong s penalty could leave the giant firm rudderless for years and hamper its ability to make key investment decisions
South Korea's Moon: There will be no war on Korean peninsula
UPDATED I will prevent war at all cost says President Moon Jae In So I want all South Koreans to believe with confidence that there will be no war
Park refuses order to testify in Samsung heir's trial
For the second time in a fortnight impeached president Park Geun Hye rejects a court order to give evidence in the case of Lee Jae Yong the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics
South Koreans vote in historic election
UPDATED South Koreans head to the polls to choose a new president to replace impeached Park Geun Hye
South Korea candidates in final push as North assails conservatives
The campaign has focused largely on jobs and the economy with North Korea less prominent despite high diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile ambitions
U.S. tries to clear waters after North Korea 'armada' confusion
Critics pounce on the discrepancy as a dangerous miscommunication saying it fed into North Korea s narrative that America is all bluster and doesn t follow through on threats
Trump's USS Carl Vinson 'armada' still far from North Korea – official
The naval strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson is still off the northwest coast of Australia
Trump seeks options for eliminating North Korea nuke threat
3rd UPDATE US President Donald Trump wants to know the range of options for dealing with Pyongyang says his national security adviser
U.S. Navy strike group heads toward Korean Peninsula
The Carl Vinson Strike Group led by the aircraft supercarrier USS Carl Vinson is sent to the area as a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific
Park supporters march in Seoul against impeachment
About 2 000 supporters of ex President Park Geun Hye are seen walking slowly waving banners and national flags including a huge one carried by some 100 people in protest against her impeachment
South Korea's impeached ex-president leaves Blue House
UPDATED I would like to express an apology for failing to fulfill my term says Park Geun Hye as she returns to her private residence
U.S. rebuffs China over North Korea talks
After a closed door meeting of the UN Security Council US Ambassador Nikki Haley says North Korea s actions calls for a different response
Impeached South Korea president tells court of 'regret'
Park Geun Hye reiterates that her only fault was trusting Choi Soon Sil and seeking advice from her longtime friend who took care of her daily affairs for years
South Korea special prosecutors to decide on charges
UPDATED Prosecutors only have until Tuesday February 28 to decide whether they will indict the heir to the Samsung empire after losing a bid to extend their inquiry
Prosecutors in standoff at South Korea president's office
A presidential spokesman says the Blue House is profoundly opposed to the search but is willing to present documents and other materials prosecutors wanted to look over
Pentagon chief Mattis arrives in South Korea amid Trump uncertainty
It is the first overseas tour by a senior official in the Trump administration as concerns rise about the direction of American policy in the region under the protectionist and fiery US leader
South Korea, U.S. defense chiefs back anti-missile system
South Korea s defense chief and his new US counterpart vow to push ahead with a plan to deploy a US anti missile system this year despite angry protests by China
Ban Ki-moon returns to South Korea after hinting at presidency run
Speaking before a crowd of hundreds at Incheon International Airport Ban says he was prepared to meet with the public this week before making a selfless decision
Samsung heir now criminal suspect in South Korea scandal – prosecutors
UPDATED Samsung heir Lee Jae Yong vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and the son of the Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun Hee would be quizzed as a suspect in connection to bribery
Monk sets himself on fire at South Korea anti-Park rally
A monk sets himself alight in central Seoul leaving a note urging authorities to arrest the scandal hit president for committing treason
South Korea president's lawyer says no evidence to back impeachment
Park Geun Hye s lawyers urge the court to overturn the vote saying the impeachment motion is based on high possibility at best and insist she be reinstated as president immediately
Lawmakers quiz South Korea's elusive 'Rasputin'
UPDATED Choi Soon Sil initially refused to leave her cell but eventually agreed to meet 8 selected members of the committee behind closed doors
Ferry tragedy probed as South Korea impeachment hearing opens
President Park Geun Hye s response to the tragedy was one of the issues cited when parliament voted for her impeachment and she faces growing pressure to explain what she was doing on the day
South Korean court to mull impeachment, ruling party split
UPDATED The court has up to 180 days to decide whether to uphold or reject parliament s impeachment of President Park Geun Hye
Trial opens of 'Rasputin' at heart of South Korea crisis
UPDATED It is the first public appearance since October for Choi Soon Sil who has been dubbed Korea s female Rasputin for the influence she wielded over the now impeached president Park Geun Hye
Impeachment kicks off early race for South Korea presidency
On paper the next presidential election is still slated for December 2017 but Park s impeachment could see it held much earlier
The empty days of South Korea's impeached president
South Korea s presidential Blue House has now become a place of solitary confinement for the impeached isolated Park Geun Hye
UN's departing Ban leaves door open for South Korea president run
I will really consider seriously how best and what I should and I could do for my country
South Korea prosecutors plan raid of presidential palace
The team – appointed by lawmakers – has recently taken over investigations by government prosecutors who had sought to raid Park s office in October but were turned away at the gate
'Shadowy' doctors visited South Korean president – hearing
It emerges that Park Geun Hye had sought treatment from doctors who were not part of her official medical staff but had ties with Choi Soon Sil
South Korea vows 'strong and stable' economy after Park ouster
South Korea s finance minister vows to keep Asia s fourth largest economy strong and stable after a decision by lawmakers to impeach President Park Geun Hye threatened to hurt growth
South Korea opposition to file impeachment motion
The joint opposition commands the most seats in the legislature but would need the support of nearly 30 members of the Saenuri Party to secure the two thirds majority needed to impeach Park
South Korean ruling party urges Park to quit in April
The ruling Saenuri Party s 128 lawmakers unanimously agreed to demand Park resign in late April and called for a presidential election to be held in June 6 months earlier than scheduled
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South Korea president says willing to leave office early
3rd UPDATE The statement is seen as a desperate bid for Park to avoid the humiliation of being impeached by the opposition controlled assembly over a scandal involving her long time confidante Choi Soon Sil
South Korea's Park refuses questioning by prosecutors – lawyer
UPDATED President Park Geun Hye earlier vowed to cooperate sincerely with the legal probe but has rejected a series of requests in recent weeks by prosecutors to make herself available for questioning
South Korea president impeachment vote in December – lawmakers
If the vote is successful it would be the first time in 12 years that South Korea s parliament has impeached a president
Viagra in the palace: South Korea president's office explains bizarre purchase
President Park Geun Hye s office is forced to explain a mass purchase of Viagra
South Korea's Park seeks more time from prosecutors
South Korean President Park Geun Hye will not be ready to appear before prosecutors until next week despite their demand to question her sooner over a snowballing political scandal
South Korea prosecutors quiz former vice sports minister
South Korean prosecutors questioned a former vice sports minister as their probe into the corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun Hye spreads to preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics
Two former aides to South Korea's Park quizzed over scandal
South Korean prosecutors question two former key presidential aides over allegations they helped a shadowy confidant of President Park Geun Hye meddle in state affairs
South Korea prosecutors bid to question Park over scandal
If Park agrees she will be the first South Korean president to be questioned by prosecutors while in office
Seoul braces for massive anti-Park protest
UPDATED We are feeling the weight of the serious public mood says presidential spokesman Jung Youn Kuk
