Police raid South Korean president’s office

Last Wednesday, in an unprecedented move, South Korean police carried out a search operation at President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office. The action is part of an investigation that investigates the attempt to impose martial law in the country, according to a presidential security official.

During the operation, investigators presented a warrant that explicitly named President Yoon as the main subject of the investigation, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.

At the time of the search, the president was not at the location, with his official residence located at another address. Since Saturday’s incident, when he apologized for trying to implement martial law, Yoon has not been seen in public.

The scandal worsened with the incident involving Kim Yong-hyun, former defense minister and Yoon’s confidant, who attempted suicide while in detention.

Kim was found wearing only underwear while trying to take his own life in a detention center, Shin Yong-hae, head of correctional services at the Ministry of Justice, told a parliamentary committee. Despite the attempt, his life is not in danger, as he is under constant surveillance.

The investigation also led to the arrest of the national police chief, the latest in a series of arrests of senior officials accused of insurrection in connection with the Dec. 3 martial law plan.

This series of events triggered a constitutional crisis, calling into question the political stability of Asia’s fourth largest economy and an important ally of the United States.

Yoon currently faces criminal charges related to the insurrection and is banned from leaving the country. Despite the serious accusations, he has not yet been arrested or questioned by the competent authorities.

The leadership crisis in the country has intensified, raising questions about who, in fact, is in charge of the government. The main opposition party, in turn, is organizing a second impeachment attempt against the president, scheduled for next Saturday.

The first attempt, which took place on December 7, was unsuccessful, but already has the support of some members of the People’s Power Party (PPP), to which Yoon is a member.

With information from Reuters