Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung orders full mobilization to combat heat wave and drought.
- Temperatures have reached near 40 C.
- 21 heat-related deaths have been reported.
- Supreme Court will rule on insurrection trials of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.
- The charges relate to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law in December 2024.
- PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok criticized President Lee over a Criminal Procedure Act revision.
- The revision strips prosecutors of investigative powers.
- President Lee approved the promulgation of the Criminal Procedure Act revision.
- Police seek arrest warrants for four student activists.
- The activists allegedly trespassed onto the U.S. K-55 Osan Air Base.
- Activists were protesting U.S. military interference and a white phosphorous leak.
President Lee Jae Myung has directed the South Korean government to fully mobilize all available resources to combat the severe impacts of an ongoing heat wave and drought. Temperatures have reached approximately 40 degrees Celsius, and the extreme weather has resulted in 21 reported heat-related deaths. The government is tasked with mitigating further damage from these conditions.
In a separate development, South Korea's Supreme Court is preparing to convene its full bench to adjudicate the insurrection trials of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min. Both individuals are facing charges for their alleged key roles in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. The court's decision will determine their legal standing regarding these serious accusations.
Politically, the leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), Jang Dong-hyeok, has publicly denounced President Lee Jae Myung. The criticism stems from President Lee's remarks suggesting he had not read a recent revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which notably strips prosecutors of their investigative powers. This occurred despite President Lee having approved the promulgation of this significant legislative change.
Furthermore, law enforcement is pursuing legal action against four student activists. South Korean police have requested arrest warrants for these individuals, who are accused of trespassing onto the K-55 Osan Air Base. The activists were reportedly protesting perceived U.S. military interference in a semiconductor project and a recent incident involving a white phosphorous leak.