South Korean police raid President’s office in martial law investigation

South Korean police raided the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday as part of an investigation whether his declaration of martial law last week, which plunged the country into a political crisis, was insurrection.

At a parliamentary hearing, Jung Chung-rae, a legislator from the opposition Democratic Party, said “the police are conducting a raid on the presidential office.” Jung is also chairm of the parliamentary committee that deals with judicial matters.

A police special investigation unit in charge of the investigation confirmed the raid and said it had also carried out search and seizure operations at several other offices: the Korean National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the National Assembly Police Guards.

Authorities have barred Yoon from leaving the country, as prosecutors and the police try to determine whether he and his supporters in the military and the government committed insurrection when they ordered soldiers to enter the National Assembly. Yoon’s office was not immediately available to comment.

Yoon is the first sitting president of South Korea to face a criminal investigation, and he now faces the possibility of being arrested while in office. The opposition has accused Yoon of committing insurrection when he sent the troops to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from voting against military rule. If Yoon is arrested, it is unclear what would happen to his role as the country’s leader. The Constitution only states that when the president is “unable to perform his or her duties for any reason,” the prime minister will step in as an interim leader.

Some scholars say the only ways to incapacitate the president would be impeachment or his resignation.

Large protests erupted following the imposition of martial law, with people calling for Yoon’s ouster and impeachment. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the National Assembly on Saturday as Yoon survived an impeachment motion after his party decided to not participate in the vote.

But the widespread anger over Yoon’s declaration of martial law is yet to subside, and his future is uncertain. His own party has said he is “excluded” from running state affairs. And while it saved Yoon from impeachment, it has said the plan is to give him an “orderly exit.”

Kim Yong-hyun, Yoon’s former defense minister who was arrested on charges of being involved in insurrection, tried to kill himself late Tuesday, Shin Yong-hae, the justice ministry official in charge of correctional facilities, told a parliamentary hearing Wednesday.

Kim was trying to end his life while in a jail restroom but gave up his attempt when wardens rushed to stop him, Shin said. Kim was in stable condition after the incident, Shin added.

The chiefs of the national police agency and the Seoul metropolitan police were also detained by investigators Wednesday for questioning over their roles in the six hours of martial law that rocked South Korea a week ago.