South Korean police announced on South Korean Police Raid President Yoon’s Office Amid Martial Law Investigation
South Korean police announced on Wednesday that they had raided President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office as part of an escalating investigation into his declaration of martial law earlier this month.
The Special Investigation Team confirmed in a statement to AFP that it conducted raids on multiple locations, including the presidential office, the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the National Assembly Security Service.
President Yoon is already under a travel ban as part of an ongoing probe into alleged “insurrection” activities linked to his administration following the brief suspension of civilian rule on December 3.
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested late Tuesday on charges of “participating in an insurrection” and “abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights.” Shortly before his arrest, Kim reportedly attempted suicide, according to Yonhap News.
A spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court stated that Kim was detained due to concerns over potential evidence tampering. Through his lawyers, Kim accepted full responsibility, stating, “All responsibility for this situation lies solely with me. My subordinates were merely following orders and carrying out their assigned duties.”
Kim, who had been under detention since Sunday, is among several senior officials placed under travel bans, including the former interior minister and the general overseeing the martial law operation.
The controversial operation involved deploying troops and helicopters to the National Assembly in a failed attempt to block lawmakers from overturning President Yoon’s martial law declaration.
On Wednesday, police confirmed the arrests of Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho of the Korean National Police Agency, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and another senior official, Kim Bong-sik.
Meanwhile, North Korea weighed in on the situation through its state media, describing the events as “chaos” in the South. A commentary accused President Yoon of using “the guns and knives of a fascist dictatorship” to suppress dissent, adding that the situation reflects a governance crisis and an impending impeachment.
President Yoon defended his martial law declaration, claiming it was necessary to protect South Korea from “the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces” and to “eliminate anti-state elements undermining the freedom and happiness of the people.”
Relations between the two Koreas remain tense, with the North recently conducting multiple ballistic missile tests in defiance of UN sanctions. Opposition lawmakers have also accused Kim Yong-hyun of reckless actions, including reportedly ordering strikes on sites where North Korean balloons were launched and deploying drones to Pyongyang to provoke conflict as a pretext for martial law.
that they had raided President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office as part of an escalating investigation into his declaration of martial law earlier this month.
The Special Investigation Team confirmed in a statement to AFP that it conducted raids on multiple locations, including the presidential office, the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the National Assembly Security Service.
President Yoon is already under a travel ban as part of an ongoing probe into alleged “insurrection” activities linked to his administration following the brief suspension of civilian rule on December 3.
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested late Tuesday on charges of “participating in an insurrection” and “abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights.” Shortly before his arrest, Kim reportedly attempted suicide, according to Yonhap News.
A spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court stated that Kim was detained due to concerns over potential evidence tampering. Through his lawyers, Kim accepted full responsibility, stating, “All responsibility for this situation lies solely with me. My subordinates were merely following orders and carrying out their assigned duties.”
Kim, who had been under detention since Sunday, is among several senior officials placed under travel bans, including the former interior minister and the general overseeing the martial law operation.
The controversial operation involved deploying troops and helicopters to the National Assembly in a failed attempt to block lawmakers from overturning President Yoon’s martial law declaration.
On Wednesday, police confirmed the arrests of Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho of the Korean National Police Agency, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and another senior official, Kim Bong-sik.
Meanwhile, North Korea weighed in on the situation through its state media, describing the events as “chaos” in the South. A commentary accused President Yoon of using “the guns and knives of a fascist dictatorship” to suppress dissent, adding that the situation reflects a governance crisis and an impending impeachment.
President Yoon defended his martial law declaration, claiming it was necessary to protect South Korea from “the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces” and to “eliminate anti-state elements undermining the freedom and happiness of the people.”
Relations between the two Koreas remain tense, with the North recently conducting multiple ballistic missile tests in defiance of UN sanctions. Opposition lawmakers have also accused Kim Yong-hyun of reckless actions, including reportedly ordering strikes on sites where North Korean balloons were launched and deploying drones to Pyongyang to provoke conflict as a pretext for martial law.
