Reuters
South Korean police are raiding the presidential office in Seoul, following President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law last week.
Police say that although they have managed to gain access to civil service offices, they are unable to enter Yoon's main office building, which is blocked by security guards, according to AFP .
The raids are the latest development in a tumultuous week for South Korean politics.
President Yoon, who has remained in power despite an impeachment vote and multiple calls for his resignation, is the subject of multiple investigations by various branches of government for insurrection and treason.
Meanwhile, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who took responsibility for declaring martial law, attempted suicide while in custody on Tuesday evening, an official said.
Kim is currently being held in a guard room and “currently has no health problems”, the ministry told parliament.
He was arrested on Sunday.
Many officials close to Yoon also resigned following the short-lived declaration of martial law.
The country is now in a situation of political change.
Lawmakers from the ruling party banded together to boycott a vote to remove Yoon as president after Yoon agreed to shorten his term and not get involved in foreign and domestic affairs.
However, the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in Parliament, criticized the deal, with party leader Park Chan-dae calling it a “second illegal and unconstitutional insurrection and second coup.”
It's unclear what authority, if any, Yoon now has, and protesters are still in the streets calling for him to step down.
“The pressure on Yoon is mounting”
Eighteen investigators were sent to the presidential office on Wednesday to seize documents relating to a cabinet meeting held the evening martial law was declared, according to local media.
Chairman Yoon, who was among the suspects listed in the search warrant, was not in his office when the searches began. Officers are currently negotiating with his security team over how the search will be carried out.
Before becoming president, Yoon rose to prominence as a prosecutor who removed high-ranking officials. In 2016, he led an investigation into former President Park Geun-hye, which ultimately led to her impeachment.
Former presidents' security teams have denied investigators access to such searches. Experts say Wednesday's attempted raid, however, shows that authorities are increasing pressure on President Yoon and his allies.
“These raids mean investigations are accelerating, including for Yoon,” Mason Richey, associate professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, told the BBC.
“Given what we think we know right now, Yoon will likely be deposed sooner rather than later. Whether before or after, he will likely also be arrested, questioned, and possibly charged with insurrection.”
Professor Richey added, however, that “the situation remains fluid”.
The last time a president's office was raided was in December 2019 following a corruption charge against the former vice mayor of Busan. The prosecution did not enter the office grounds at that time, but the office handed over the documents to him, as per protocol.
At the time, the country was led by former President Moon Jae-in, with Yoon not assuming the role until 2022.
Additional reporting by Tessa Wong
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