South Korean police conducted a raid on President Yoon Suk Yeol's office on Wednesday, according to a presidential security official, as part of an ongoing investigation into the president's unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law. Meanwhile, Kim Yong-hyun, the former defense minister and a close ally of Yoon, reportedly attempted suicide at a detention center where he is being held following his arrest, according to a Justice Ministry official who spoke at a parliamentary hearing.
A presidential security service official confirmed to Reuters that police had indeed raided Yoon's office. The national police agency, however, did not immediately confirm the search. Yonhap news agency reported that police investigators presented a search warrant specifically naming Yoon as the subject of the investigation. This raid signifies a significant escalation in the probe against Yoon and other top police and military officers involved in the controversial martial law declaration on December 3, which led to a constitutional crisis in South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. ally.
Yonhap reported that Yoon was not present at the presidential office during the raid, as his official residence is located elsewhere. Since issuing an apology on Saturday for attempting to impose martial law, Yoon has not been seen in public. In a separate incident, Kim, the former defense minister, was discovered by guards attempting suicide inside a detention center using his underwear, according to Shin Yong-hae, the justice ministry's chief of correction services, who spoke at the parliamentary justice committee. Shin added that Kim was under observation and his life was not in immediate danger. Kim has since resigned and been arrested on charges of insurrection.
Earlier on Wednesday, the national police chief was arrested on insurrection charges, according to Yonhap news agency. Yoon himself is now under criminal investigation for insurrection and is prohibited from leaving the country, though he has not been arrested or questioned by authorities. The leadership crisis in South Korea has deepened, with questions arising over who is currently running the country and the main opposition party planning a second impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday. Some members of the president's People Power Party (PPP) have voiced support for the impeachment motion, which failed in the first vote on December 7.
"The impeachment train has left the platform. There is going to be no way to stop it," said DP leader Lee Jae-myung at the start of a party meeting. The first impeachment vote last Saturday failed as most PPP members boycotted the session. National Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho was arrested early on Wednesday on insurrection charges, according to Yonhap. Cho is accused of deploying police to block lawmakers from entering parliament after Yoon declared martial law on December 3. Following Yoon's late-night declaration, lawmakers, including some from his own party, broke through the security cordon around parliament and voted to demand the immediate rescission of martial law, which Yoon did hours later.
After appearing on live television on Saturday to apologize, Yoon has not been seen in public. PPP leader Han Dong-hoon stated that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would manage state affairs while the party seeks an "orderly" way for the president to resign. The constitutional legitimacy of this arrangement has been questioned by opposition parties and some legal scholars. Yoon's office said on Tuesday it had "no official position" when asked who was running the country. Kwak Jong-geun, the commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, told a parliament committee on Tuesday that Yoon had ordered him to send troops to parliament on December 3 to "break the door down" and "drag out" lawmakers. Yoon's former defense minister, Kim, has also been accused by military officers of issuing the same order.
Parliament is scheduled to hold a session on Wednesday to introduce a bill to impeach Yoon. A two-thirds majority in the opposition-controlled unicameral assembly is required to pass the bill. The Constitutional Court will then deliberate the case and decide whether to remove the president from office. The country's metal workers' union, including workers at Kia Corp, has declared a protest strike for Wednesday. Members of financial institutions, including the Bank of Korea, plan to join a protest rally on the same day.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
