South Korean police searched the office of President Yun Seok-Yeol on Wednesday, and one of his top officials attempted suicide, officials said, as an investigation into the U.S. ally's decision to declare martial law expanded last week.
The raid marks a dramatic escalation in the investigation into Mr. Yun and top police and military officials over the sudden declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, which plunged Asia's fourth-largest economy into a constitutional crisis. It is something.
Kim Yong-hyun, a close aide to Yun and then-minister of defense, wore a shirt and underwear at the detention center where he was being held after his arrest on Sunday, a Justice Ministry official told Congress. It is said that he attempted suicide.
The official added that he is currently under observation and that his life is not in danger at this time.
Kim resigned and apologized for his role in invoking the short-lived state of emergency, saying he was solely responsible.
Immediately after Yun abruptly declared martial law in the middle of the night, members of Congress, including some members of his own party, voted in favor of demanding the president immediately rescind the order, which the president did hours later. Withdrawn.
Consideration of arrest
Yun is currently the subject of a criminal investigation on suspicion of rioting and is prohibited from leaving the country, but he has not been arrested or questioned by authorities.
The president has not been seen in public since Saturday and was also absent during a police raid on his office.
A presidential security official confirmed the attack to Reuters. Police declined immediate comment.
According to Yonhap News, police investigative authorities submitted a search warrant that specified Yoon as the suspect.
Oh Dong-woong, head of the Office of High-Level Corruption Investigation, one of the agencies currently investigating the martial law debacle, said the office was “ready” to arrest Yoon if necessary. Ta.
According to Yonhap News, National Police Chief Cho Ji-ho became the latest top official to be arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of calling in police to prevent members of the National Assembly from entering the National Assembly.
Calls for Yun's arrest grew after senior military officials said he had ordered the military to storm parliament on December 3 and prevent lawmakers from voting to reject martial law.
Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jeong-geun told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday that Yoon ordered the military to “break down the door right now, go in and drag out the congressmen.”
Yun's defense minister at the time, Kim, has been criticized by military officials for issuing similar orders.
leadership crisis
The leadership crisis deepened as Yun's grip on power became increasingly unstable and questions swirled over who was running the country. Asked on Tuesday who was responsible, Yun's office said: “We have no official position.”
The leader of the president's People Power Party (PPP) said Prime Minister Han Deok-soo will manage national affairs while the party searches for an “orderly” way for the president to step down.
The constitutional validity of this arrangement has been questioned by opposition parties and some legal scholars.
The opposition Democratic Party announced on Wednesday that it would submit a new bill to impeach Yoon, scheduled for a vote on Saturday, a week after the first impeachment resolution was rejected.
Some members of the president's party have since spoken out in favor of the motion. Just eight PPP members would need to vote in favor of impeachment to pass it with full opposition support.
“The impeachment train has left the platform. There is no way to stop it,” Democratic Progressive Party leader Lee Jae-myung said at a party meeting.
Kim Jae-seop, a PPP member who participated in the party's boycott during the first impeachment vote, said he would vote in favor of the motion this time and urged the party to take similar action.
If Congress passes impeachment, the Constitutional Court will consider the case and decide whether to remove the president from office.
The country's metalworkers' union, which includes workers at the Kia automaker, declared a protest strike for Wednesday. Financial institution officials, including the Bank of Korea, plan to participate in Wednesday's protest rally.
If you live in New York City and are struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. You can. If you live outside the five boroughs, dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
