South Korean police reported on Wednesday that security personnel at President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office were obstructing a raid aimed at investigating his brief imposition of martial law. The opposition party has accused the presidential staff of unlawfully shielding an “insurrectionist” amid ongoing investigations into the controversial events of December 3-4 that shocked the nation and its allies.
As part of the investigation into an alleged insurrection within Yoon’s inner circle, the president is currently banned from traveling abroad. After hours of standoff at the presidential office, the police stated that their special investigation team was in continued discussions with the presidential staff regarding the raid and the seizure of evidence.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) warned that legal complaints would be filed against the presidential staff and security forces for obstructing the investigation. DP spokesperson Jo Seung-lae criticized the actions of the staff, asserting that they were not protecting the president, but rather an insurrectionist.
In a related development, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of advising Yoon to impose martial law, attempted suicide shortly before his formal arrest on Tuesday night. Kim faces charges of misconduct related to the martial law declaration. He was initially detained on Sunday, and his arrest on charges of insurrection and abuse of power came after an internal investigation into the events surrounding the martial law order.
The Ministry of Justice and prison officials confirmed that Kim was in stable health on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the former interior minister and the general in charge of the martial law operation, along with other senior officials, have been barred from leaving the country. The National Police Agency, the Ministry of Defense, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials have launched a joint task force to expedite the investigation.
Yoon defended his decision to declare martial law, claiming it was necessary to protect South Korea from threats posed by North Korea and to eliminate anti-state elements. In response, North Korea’s state media labeled the move a “fascist dictatorship,” accusing Yoon of creating chaos within the country. Tensions between North and South Korea have escalated recently, with North Korea conducting missile tests in violation of UN sanctions.
Kim’s role in the martial law decision, particularly his involvement in suggesting military actions against North Korean targets, has become a focal point of the investigation. Opposition lawmakers allege that Kim attempted to provoke conflict as a pretext for the martial law declaration.
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