11-12-2024 (SEOUL) Law enforcement officials encountered significant resistance Wednesday whilst attempting to execute a search warrant at the presidential office in Seoul, marking a dramatic escalation in the investigation of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration.
A contingent of 18 investigators from the National Investigation Office arrived at the presidential compound before midday, only to find themselves locked in a tense standoff with the Presidential Security Service. The investigators sought to gather evidence related to last week’s brief but contentious implementation of martial law, particularly focusing on records from a crucial Cabinet meeting that preceded the decree on 3 December.
The situation took a remarkable turn as President Yoon became the first sitting South Korean head of state to face an exit ban, with authorities naming him as a suspect in an alleged insurrection plot. The gravity of the investigation was underscored by the scope of the search warrant, which encompassed multiple high-security facilities including the presidential office, Cabinet meeting chambers, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff building.
In a startling revelation before parliament, Army Special Warfare Commander Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun testified that President Yoon had directly ordered him to forcibly remove lawmakers from the National Assembly building during their attempts to overturn the martial law order.
The investigation has already resulted in significant action against top law enforcement officials. In pre-dawn operations, authorities arrested National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Kim Bong-sik. Simultaneous raids were conducted at their respective offices, as well as at the National Assembly Police Guards headquarters.
Legal experts note that the charges being considered against President Yoon are among the most serious in South Korean law, with insurrection carrying penalties up to and including capital punishment. Police sources indicate they have not ruled out the possibility of implementing emergency arrest procedures against the president, given the severity of the allegations.
