bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Park Chan-kyong

The passage of three laws mandating special investigations into corruption and abuse of power allegations involving impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol and his controversial wife marks a significant setback for South Korea’s conservatives, according to analysts.
Former first lady Kim Keon-hee was long considered beyond the reach of law enforcement, largely due to her outsize influence over her husband and state affairs.
But that “untouchable” status appears to be fading following a change in political leadership after six months of chaos sparked by Yoon’s martial law fiasco last December.
When the couple’s political nemesis, liberal President Lee Jae-myung, was elected on Tuesday, he pledged in his inauguration speech to “bring those responsible to justice through thorough investigations”.
Two days later, his ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pushed through bills calling for special investigations into the December 3 martial law declaration, alleged cover-up of a marine’s death in 2023, and the former first lady. The three bills are expected to take effect as early as this week, once formally endorsed by Lee.

“This move provides momentum to resolve the aftermath of the martial law decree and put the country’s politics back on a normal track,” Jhee Byong-kuen, a political-science professor at Chosun University, told This Week in Asia.
“It will also likely trigger a realignment within the conservative camp, with the People Power Party facing a shift away from its pro-Yoon faction.”
Following their defeat in Tuesday’s election, some People Power Party (PPP) leaders have blamed the loss on a failure to distance themselves from Yoon and his allies. Many voters viewed the martial law decree as a dangerous attempt to drag the nation back to an authoritarian era.
The special investigations could draw backlash from the PPP as perceived political retaliation, said Lee Jae-mook, a political-science professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
This was despite the fact that “the PPP and the former president covered up, hindered, or invoked veto power to block investigations into the insurrection allegations and other scandals”, he said.
“It requires a delicate balancing act by the Lee administration to ensure these judicial actions are not seen as political revenge, which could further deepen the already wide political divide.”
Lee had to be careful not to let the investigations overshadow his new administration and inflame partisan tensions, particularly as Yoon would be facing a high-stakes rebellion trial that could carry a death sentence, said Lim Sung-hack, a political-science professor at the University of Seoul.


Though such special investigations were essential to reveal the truth and “put an end to wasteful political controversies”, he cautioned that they should not be used for political vengeance or to gain electoral advantage ahead of local elections scheduled for June next year.
“Such a move would inevitably lead to extreme political confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties,” Lim said, adding there could be logistical challenges in finding enough personnel to conduct such large-scale simultaneous investigations.
During Yoon’s presidency, the DPK-controlled National Assembly had passed similar bills – all repeatedly vetoed by Yoon and the caretaker government that followed his impeachment on December 14.
Yoon already faces trial on insurrection charges related to the controversial martial law plan, which critics say was designed to extend his hold on power and shield his wife from legal scrutiny.
‘North Wind’ operation
The special investigation into the martial law case targets 11 alleged crimes, including the unlawful mobilisation of military forces.
Notably, the bill also includes allegations that Yoon’s government tried to provoke North Korea into an armed conflict, as the resulting state of emergency would justify invoking martial law.
The DPK accuses Yoon and his associates of attempting to orchestrate a so-called North Wind operation – referring to efforts to stir up security fears around election time through North Korean provocations.
As evidence, the DPK cited intelligence tip-offs and notes from retired intelligence commander Noh Sang-won, who had been arrested on charges of masterminding the failed martial law plan.
His notes reportedly include phrases such as “induce [the] North’s attack at the Northern Limit Line” and “garbage balloons”.

The term “garbage balloons” refers to gas-filled balloons carrying trash that North Korea sent across the border in November last year, in retaliation for South Korean propaganda leaflet launches.
A month earlier, Pyongyang had accused Seoul of flying drones over its capital and responded by releasing images of crashed drones and threatening retaliation.
In a parliamentary hearing, then-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun repeatedly claimed he could not confirm the allegations. He is now suspected of having ordered a strike on the North Korean site launching the balloons – an order reportedly halted by opposition from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The special investigation into the former first lady includes 16 allegations, such as accepting luxury goods from a Unification Church official in exchange for business favours, stock price manipulations, and interference in candidate nominations during the 2022 by-election and 2024 parliamentary election.
Significantly, the bill also addresses claims that Yoon’s presidential office pressured investigators to cover up a 2023 drug-smuggling case allegedly involving tax authorities.
The National Assembly also passed a bill authorising an independent investigation into the 2023 drowning death of a marine during a flood rescue operation. The presidential office is also accused of orchestrating a cover-up in that case.

“This is the first step toward justice that has been long delayed,” the progressive Kyunghyang Daily wrote in a Thursday editorial, calling for full investigations and accountability to reinforce the rule of law.
Another progressive paper, Hankyoreh, called the investigations a response to public will expressed in Tuesday’s election, which it described as “a judgment on the insurrection”.
However, the conservative JoongAng daily warned on Thursday that the investigations were seen as persecution of the opposition and could provoke accusations of political retaliation.
“The truth must be uncovered, but political motivations must be completely excluded,” it wrote.


South Korea’s probes of Yoon and wife: search for truth or ‘political revenge’?

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, at a polling station in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE/Yonhap

Supporters hand flowers to President Lee Jae-myung as he departs for the National Assembly to attend his inauguration ceremony on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

South Korean soldiers check a balloon carrying garbage, presumably sent by North Korea, in Seoul on June 25 last year. Photo: South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff/ EPA-EFE

Protesters carry an effigy of former president Yoon Suk-yeol last December. Photo: AP

This Week in Asia

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The new ruling party has passed bills to investigate Yoon’s martial law declaration, former first lady and cover-up of a marine’s death


The new ruling party has passed bills to investigate Yoon’s martial law declaration, former first lady and cover-up of a marine’s death.


South Korea’s probes of Yoon and wife: search for truth or ‘political revenge’?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The new ruling party has passed bills to investigate Yoon’s martial law declaration, former first lady and cover-up of a marine’s death

The new ruling party has passed bills to investigate Yoon’s martial law declaration, former first lady and cover-up of a marine’s death