South Korea

From childhood poverty to the presidency, South Korea elects liberal who promised to fight inequality and corruption

By Hyung-Jin Kim, Kim Tong-Hyung, Associated Press

South Korean media outlets including Yonhap news agency and SBS television station report early Wednesday that Lee has won the election.

What to know about South Korea’s presidential election

By Hyung-Jin Kim, Kim Tong-Hyung, Associated Press

The winner will be sworn in as president on Wednesday without the typical two-month transition period, with the urgent task of trying to heal the deep domestic divide.

South Korea’s main conservative party nominates Kim Moon Soo as its presidential candidate

By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press

Former Labor Minister and staunch conservative Kim Moon Soo won the presidential nomination of South Korea’s main conservative party, facing an uphill battle against liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung for the June 3 election.

South Korea’s acting leader resigns amid reports he’s launching his presidential campaign

By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press

South Korea’s acting leader, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, says he is resigning amid reports he will run in next month’s presidential election.

South Korean truth commission halts probe into adoption fraud, leaving hundreds of cases in limbo

By Kim Tong-Hyung, Associated Press

South Korea’s government has never acknowledged direct responsibility for issues related to past adoptions and has so far not responded to the commission’s recommendation to issue an official apology.

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung announces presidential bid after Yoon’s ouster

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, widely seen as the front-runner in a presidential by-election triggered by the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, officially announced his presidential bid.

South Korea will hold snap election on June 3 to choose Yoon’s successor

By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press

South Korea will hold a snap presidential election June 3 to choose Yoon Suk Yeol’s successor after the conservative was ousted over his imposition of martial law late last year.

South Korea fires warning shots as about 10 North Korean soldiers cross border

By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press

South Korea says its military has fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers crossed the border.

Wildfires ravaging southern South Korea leave 24 dead, force thousands to evacuate

By Kim Tong-Hyung, Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press

Wind-driven wildfires that were among South Korea’s worst ever have ravaged the country’s southern regions, killing 24 people, destroying more than 300 structures and forcing 28,800 residents to evacuate, officials said Wednesday.

Court in Japan orders dissolution of Unification Church

By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press

The Unification Church in Japan was ordered dissolved by a court after a government request spurred by the investigation into the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.