The Minute to Read (Weekdays) series provides a quick overview of significant events in Korea everyday, conveniently condensed into a one-minute read. Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday: Dec. 17.

With the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol passing in the National Assembly on Dec. 14, attention is now focused on whether the Constitutional Court, currently operating with six justices, will deliver a ruling under its current composition or expedite a return to its full bench of nine justices. /Yonhap News

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Constitutional Court sets Yoon’s impeachment trial for Dec. 27

The Constitutional Court has set the first preparatory hearing for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment trial for Dec. 27 at 2 p.m. Justice Cheong Hyung-sik, appointed through a random electronic selection process, will lead the proceedings. The decision was reached during a Dec. 16 meeting attended by six justices, as the court currently has three vacant seats. Despite these vacancies, the court reaffirmed its commitment to expediting the trial. Justice Cheong, appointed by Yoon in December 2023, is tasked with overseeing preparatory deliberations and drafting the preliminary ruling. Justice Lee Mi-son has also been designated to assist with the preparatory proceedings. Legal experts describe Cheong as a principled jurist expected to adhere strictly to legal principles when adjudicating a case. A Constitutional Court official downplayed Cheong’s role, emphasizing that all justices participate in deliberations, which Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae will lead during the formal hearings. The court has established a task force to ensure efficiency and is considering convening twice-weekly meetings to accelerate the proceedings.

Political crisis threatens momentum of South Korea’s nuclear exports

President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, passed by South Korea’s National Assembly on Dec. 14, has raised concerns over its impact on the country’s nuclear export ambitions amid a global surge in demand for nuclear energy driven by rising power needs and AI advancements. “Team Korea”—Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Doosan Enerbility, and Daewoo Engineering & Construction—is working to finalize a $16.7 billion deal for two reactors in Dukovany, Czech Republic, secured in July and expected to be signed in March 2025. Industry officials say the impeachment is unlikely to affect the Dukovany project but warn it could slow future bids, including plans for additional reactors in Temelín, as presidential support is often pivotal in negotiations. Yoon, who reversed his predecessor’s nuclear phase-out policy, has prioritized revitalizing the sector, aligning South Korea with the booming global nuclear market. The IAEA projects nuclear capacity will reach 950 gigawatts by 2050, while the World Nuclear Association estimates the market, currently worth $696.8 billion, will grow 60% to $878 billion by 2035.

U.S. confirms North Korean troops engaged in combat in Russia, suffering casualties

The United States has officially confirmed that North Korean troops have engaged in combat alongside Russian forces, sustaining casualties during clashes with Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said on Dec. 16 that North Korean soldiers, deployed last week and integrated into Russian infantry units, have suffered both killed and wounded. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby estimated the losses to be “in the realm of several dozens,” describing the deployment of North Korean troops to the front lines as a recent development. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also confirmed the fatalities, warning that any crossing of North Korean troops into Ukrainian territory would mark a significant escalation by both Moscow and Pyongyang. The involvement of North Korean forces highlights deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea, fueling Western concerns over the conflict’s escalation and its broader geopolitical implications.

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[The Chosun Daily]

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