South Korean police raided President Yoon Seok-yeol's official residence over his role in last week's declaration of martial law. The move plunged Asia's fourth-largest economy into crisis and alarmed allies.
According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, Wednesday's raid, which was supported by other senior officials in the administration, indicates that Yoon's actions amount to sedition, a crime for which presidential immunity is not granted and may constitute sedition. It was part of law enforcement's attempt to establish whether the Death penalty.
The Special Investigation Department admitted that it searched the presidential palace and other areas. “The special investigation team raided the presidential palace, the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the National Assembly Security Agency,” the unit said in a message to Agence France-Presse.
News of the raid came as officials announced that Yun's former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, had attempted suicide while in custody at the Seoul detention center where he had been held since Sunday.
Kim, who was formally arrested early Wednesday after a court approved a warrant on suspicion of playing a key role in rebellion and abuse of power, is in stable condition, South Korean Correctional Service Director Shin Yong-hye said. Ta. he told the lawmakers.
Kim was the first person to be arrested in connection with the Dec. 3 martial law order, and is currently facing charges including “engaging in important duties during a riot” and “abuse of power to obstruct the exercise of rights.” are.
A spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court told AFP that Kim's formal arrest was made amid concerns that evidence may have been destroyed.
Two senior police officers were also arrested early Wednesday morning as investigations into the political turmoil caused by the imposition of martial law began in earnest.
Late Tuesday, at least several hundred protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly, waving psylliums and holding placards that read “Impeach criminal rebel Yoon Seok-yeol.”
Local media reported on Tuesday that the office of a ruling party lawmaker had been vandalized, with images showing the door covered in what appeared to be ketchup and eggs and flour scattered on the floor.
Demonstrators also sent condolence flowers with placards reading “Accomplices in Rebellion” to offices normally reserved for funerals to express their opposition to the boycott. .
Local police in Seoul's Dobong district told AFP that an unspecified “murder weapon” was found in front of the residence of PPP lawmaker Kim Jae-seop, who requested additional security.
Yun suspended civilian rule a week ago and sent special forces and helicopters to parliament, but lawmakers in the country, considered a stable democracy, forced him to rescind the decree.
Kim apologized on Tuesday through his lawyer, saying, “I alone bear all responsibility for this situation.”
He offered his “deep apologies” to the South Korean people and said his subordinates were “simply following my orders and carrying out their assigned duties.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Kwak Jong-geun, the head of the Army's Special Warfare Command, told lawmakers that Yoon had instructed him to prevent enough lawmakers from gathering in Congress to reject martial law.
“The president called me directly on a secret phone. He said it appeared that a quorum was not yet met and instructed me to immediately break down the door and drag people out. [lawmakers] Inside,” Kwak said.
Lawmakers passed a motion Tuesday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate martial law cases.
Mr. Yoon's ruling party said it was drawing up a “resignation roadmap” under which Mr. Yoon could resign in February or March before re-election, while the opposition party called for an impeachment vote every Saturday. We are planning to implement it.
A day after Yoon was banned from traveling abroad, authorities also banned further senior officials from leaving the country, including Cho Ji-ho, head of the South Korean National Police Agency, police told AFP.
According to Yonhap News, Cho and Kim Bong-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were arrested without a warrant early Wednesday morning. He could be held for up to 48 hours for questioning before being formally arrested.
Former defense minister, interior minister and martial law commander General Park An-soo were already subject to travel bans and were shot to death by lawmakers along with other senior officials on Tuesday.
Yun barely survived Saturday's impeachment campaign in Congress, where tens of thousands of people braved freezing temperatures to demand his removal from office. The motion was rejected because members of Yun's ruling People's Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote, depriving the parliament of the necessary two-thirds majority.
The People's Party said Mr. Yin, 63, had agreed to hand over power to the prime minister and party leader, a move the opposition parties denounced as a “second coup.”
The party's task force is reportedly considering two options: Yun resigning in February and holding an April election, or resigning in March and holding a May vote. There is.
The opposition holds 192 seats in the 300-member parliament, so just eight PPP MPs need to vote in favor of a new impeachment motion to pass.
Last week, two PPP lawmakers, Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Ye-ji, voted in favor of the motion, and two more on Tuesday announced their support for the motion.
with Agence France-Presse
