Intl desk, Dec 11: Police in South Korea are raiding the presidential office, following last week’s attempt by President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law in the country.
The president and his allies are currently facing insurrection charges, and a travel ban has been slapped on several of them.
South Korea’s ex-defence minister who took responsibility for the declaration has attempted suicide in detention, a justice ministry official has told parliament.
President Yoon has apologised for the attempt but has not accepted growing calls for him to step down.
Last weekend, an attempt to impeach the president failed, after members of his own ruling party boycotted the vote – but opposition members are set to hold another impeachment vote this weekend and have vowed to hold one every Saturday until Yoon is gone.
North Korean media reported on the martial law declaration on Wednesday, calling it an “insane” attempt by a “fascist dictator”.
According to BBC correspondent, the president’s security team was not told about the search beforehand, according to local media reports.
The last time a president’s office was searched was December 2019 over a corruption accusation into the former vice mayor of Busan. The prosecution did not get inside the office grounds at the time but was handed the material by the office, as per protocol.
At the time, the country was led by former president Moon Jae-in, with Yoon only assuming the role in 2022.
The magnitude of this raid will differ depending on whether the officers are going inside the presidential office or are simply being handed materials by the office.
Source: News Agencies and BBC