Police raid S. Korean presidential office, arrest former defense minister following declaration of martial law
SEOUL — South Korean police raided the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of the ongoing investigation into the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, South Korean state media Yonhap reported Wednesday .
The Special Emergency Martial Prosecution Team of the South Korean National Police Investigation Headquarters carried out the “seizure and search” of the president’s office Wednesday morning local time, Yonhap reported.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol answers questions from a reporter during a news conference at the presidential office in Seoul, November 7, 2024.
Kim Hong-ji/Reuters
South Korean police also arrested South Korean National Police Commissioner Cho Ji Ho and Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong Sik on Wednesday morning as part of the ongoing investigation into the declaration of martial law.
The police action follows more than a week of political unrest in South Korea following Yoon’s brief failure to impose a police state, a measure the president at the time said was necessary to protect nation of internal enemies. Yoon, a member of the conservative People Power Party, backtracked on his statement within hours. Opposition parties later moved to impeach Yoon, but his party’s lawmakers refused to join the vote, leaving him in power.
Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin Seok and several other staff resigned shortly after martial law was lifted. Yoon agreed shortly after the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, described as the architect of Yoon’s plan.
The former defense minister, who took full responsibility for the declaration of martial law in a statement by his lawyer on Tuesday, became the first government official to be officially arrested for the series of events on Tuesday evening, local time. He was arrested for engaging in activities essential to the insurgency and abusing his power during the six-hour martial law regime.
People stand near a railing as the presidential office building, in the background, is raided by police from the National Bureau of Investigation, in Seoul, South Korea, December 11, 2024.
Kim Hong-ji/Reuters
He had attempted suicide while in the toilet before an arrest warrant was issued for him, Shin Yong Hae, head of the South Korean Justice Ministry’s prison headquarters, said during a public interrogation before a judicial committee on Wednesday.
“Yesterday afternoon, at around 11:52 p.m., a member of our staff witnessed a suicide attempt…before an arrest warrant was issued,” Shin said. “He immediately gave up when staff opened the door. He is currently being held at a shelter and is said to be in good health.”
The two people arrested Wednesday, the South Korean national police commissioner and the Seoul police chief, were arrested on charges of insurrection, according to the South Korean police’s special investigation team. They are suspected of having ordered the police to block the deputies of the National Assembly who were there to cancel the martial law decree.
The arrests came just a day after both men were placed under travel bans.
If you are having suicidal thoughts or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text Suicide. & Crisis Lifeline on 988 for free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
