South Korean police made an attempt on Wednesday to search President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office as part of an ongoing investigation into the December 3 martial law declaration that has plunged the nation into a constitutional crisis. However, according to Yonhap News, investigators have yet to gain access to the main building of the presidential compound.
The search represents a significant escalation in the probe against Yoon and senior officials in the police and military. The president is currently under criminal investigation for alleged insurrection, banned from leaving the country, but has not been arrested or questioned.
A spokesperson for the presidential security service confirmed that the raid was underway earlier in the day but added that police and the Secret Service had yet to agree on the terms for executing the search. Police have declined to comment, while the presidential office maintains that it is cooperating within legal bounds.
The investigation has already led to the arrests of former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and two senior police officers, including the national police chief, on insurrection charges.
Kim, a close ally of Yoon, attempted suicide late Tuesday while in detention, using a shirt and underwear. Authorities have since placed him under observation, and his condition is reportedly stable. Kim has resigned and issued an apology, taking sole responsibility for the emergency rule declaration.
Yoon’s declaration of martial law, issued late at night on December 3, was met with swift opposition from lawmakers, including members of his party. The president rescinded the order hours later following a vote demanding its withdrawal.
The incident has raised concerns over executive overreach and shaken the political landscape of Asia’s fourth-largest economy. Investigations are ongoing, and the nation awaits further developments in the high-stakes probe.
