SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean police attempted to search President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office on Wednesday (11) but were unable to enter the main building, Yonhap news agency reported, as it widens the investigation into the president’s decision to declare martial law.
The attempted search of the presidential office significantly increases the investigation against Yoon and top police and military authorities over the December 3 statement, which plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy into a crisis.
He is now the target of a criminal investigation into allegations of insurrection and is banned from leaving the country, but has not been arrested or questioned by authorities.
A presidential security service official said earlier on Wednesday that the police raid on Yoon’s office was underway, confirming media reports at the time. Yonhap later said investigators had not yet entered the main building of the presidential complex.
Yonhap said police had been unable to reach an agreement with the Secret Service on the seizure and search method. Police declined to comment.
“We are responding based on the law and previous government cases,” said a presidential office official, denying that the office was opposing the search.
Continues after advertising
Suicide attempt
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a close confidant of Yoon, and two senior police officers, including the national police chief, were arrested on insurrection charges as part of the investigation.
Kim attempted suicide using a shirt and underwear on Tuesday night (10) in a detention center where he is being held, a Justice Ministry official told Parliament.
He was now under observation and his life was not in danger, the official added.
Continues after advertising
Kim resigned and apologized for his role in the brief imposition of emergency rule, saying he was solely responsible.
Shortly after Yoon’s late-night declaration of martial law, lawmakers, including some members of his own party, voted to demand that the president immediately revoke the order, which he did hours later.
