Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol returned to his private home on Friday from the official residence after his removal from office, with crowds of supporters turning out to greet his motorcade.
The Constitutional Court upheld Yoon's impeachment last Friday, capping four months of unprecedented constitutional turmoil after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December sent shockwaves through Asia's fourth-largest economy.
South Korea will now hold a snap election on June 3, and questions remain over whether Yoon might still play a role given how his impeachment appears to have deepened polarisation in society and stirred up his conservative supporters.
Hundreds had gathered outside the gates of the official residence, where Yoon briefly stopped to hug and shake hands with supporters, some of whom were crying.
The ousted president has not been seen in public since he was released from prison on March 8 when a court cancelled his detention warrant in the criminal case against him. He did not attend the impeachment ruling by the Constitutional Court on April 4.
But a number of his ruling party members and supporters have been seen visiting the official residence where Yoon reportedly discussed the upcoming election.
As he left the official residence, Yoon donned a red baseball cap saying "Make Korea Great Again" given to him by a supporter, video footage showed.
"Now I will go back to being one of the people... and find a new way for the country and the people," Yoon said in a written message relayed via his lawyer.
He and his wife were driven in a motorcade from the official presidential residence to their private apartment in a 37-storey building in Seoul. The pet-loving couple will also take back more than 10 dogs and cats they own.
Some 280 police were deployed around his private home on Friday ahead of the move, and Yoon is to be accompanied by a security detail of about 50 people, media reported.
The former president still faces trial on a criminal charge of leading an insurrection, which is punishable by death or a life sentence if he is convicted.
The race to replace Yoon kicked off this week with nearly 20 hopefuls expected to contest for the candidacy of the conservative People Power Party that is in a fight to retain the presidency against a populist liberal who leads in the polls.
TRAILING IN POLLS
Candidates are set to face an uphill battle against the populist former leader of the Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung, who declared his bid on Thursday, polls show.
All the conservative candidates are receiving single-digit support in polls, with former labour minister Kim Moon-soo leading the pack at 9%, far behind Lee at 37%, according to a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday.
Lee, who faces potential legal obstacles to his presidential bid from various legal cases, has pledged to overcome polarisation in society and spur economic growth if elected.
Unveiling his policy vision on Friday, Lee said he wanted to help the industrial powerhouse focus on cutting edge science and technology.
"To survive in the ruthless global battlefield, I make an appeal to you to shift the paradigm from copying to leading," he told a news conference.
Yoon has said his December 3 martial law was meant to expose the abuse of parliamentary majority by the Democratic Party to stall his policies and not meant to impose full military rule.
The Democratic Party and his critics say his actions amounted to an insurrection that nearly destroyed democracy.
South Korea and NATO have agreed to set up a new consultative body focused on defence industry cooperation, aiming to deepen collaboration through joint development and procurement initiatives.
The United States and South Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to reaching a tariff agreement as soon as possible, according to South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
South Korea and Malaysia agreed to expand bilateral cooperation, including efforts to finalize a free trade agreement, during a phone call between their leaders, local media reported.
South Korea’s chief trade negotiator, Yeo Han-koo, will travel to the United States from June 22 to 27 for a new round of high-level discussions aimed at resolving escalating trade tensions, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on Saturday.
South Korea on Friday pushed back against U.S. demands to sharply increase its defense budget, saying its current spending is already among the highest relative to GDP for U.S. allies.
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a new prisoner exchange, officials from both countries confirmed on Thursday, following talks earlier this month in Türkiye.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel’s recent victory in its conflict with Iran opens a path to expanded peace deals, including the possible addition of Saudi Arabia and Syria to the Abraham Accords.
A key unit at Iran’s South Pars gas field, damaged during Israel’s first strike on the country’s energy infrastructure, has resumed operations just 10 days after the attack.
Uzbekistan’s economy is set to expand by 6.5 percent by the end of 2025, driven by rising household income and sustained investment, according to the Eurasian Development Bank.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a new prisoner exchange, officials from both countries confirmed on Thursday, following talks earlier this month in Türkiye.
Kenya’s interior minister has accused demonstrators of attempting to overthrow the government during deadly protests that left at least 16 people dead, amid growing calls for dialogue between the state and the country’s disaffected youth.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that U.S. President Donald Trump is ready to join a Ukraine peace summit in Türkiye, but only if Russian President Vladimir Putin also agrees to attend.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Congress to shut down the Voice of America, accusing the taxpayer-funded broadcaster of promoting radical leftist views and calling it a "total, leftwing disaster."
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a new prisoner exchange, officials from both countries confirmed on Thursday, following talks earlier this month in Türkiye.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel’s recent victory in its conflict with Iran opens a path to expanded peace deals, including the possible addition of Saudi Arabia and Syria to the Abraham Accords.
A key unit at Iran’s South Pars gas field, damaged during Israel’s first strike on the country’s energy infrastructure, has resumed operations just 10 days after the attack.
Uzbekistan’s economy is set to expand by 6.5 percent by the end of 2025, driven by rising household income and sustained investment, according to the Eurasian Development Bank.
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