South Korean police try fresh raid on presidential compound

ISTANBUL

South Korean police on Thursday tried to carry out a fresh raid on the presidential compound a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office blocked the entry of investigators to probe his failed martial law attempt.

The raid was targeted at the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters, located in the same presidential compound, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

It was unclear whether the investigators from the National Office of Investigation were able to access the Joint Chiefs of Staff office which has, however, agreed to cooperate with the police which will receive additional materials from it on a voluntary basis.

The investigators, a special unit of the police, require consent from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to enter a military facility.

The staff building was “used by the martial law command when the order was in effect,” said the report.

Yoon’s office earlier handed “limited papers” to investigators but denied them entry into the presidential office.

The investigators tried for hours on Wednesday to enter the presidential compound to search the Cabinet conference room, the Presidential Security Service, and the bunker room inside the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters.

Earlier today, South Korean Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su was suspended from duty after Yoon named him commander of the short-lived martial law declared on Dec. 3.

But the martial law was quickly lifted after 190 lawmakers rushed to reject Yoon’s decision.

Separately, lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill, for the fourth time, to appoint a special counsel to probe first lady Kim Keon Hee.

The first three bills to that effect were vetoed by Yoon.

Today’s bill passed 195-85 while two parliamentarians abstained.

Yoon’s move to impose martial law triggered a political crisis in South Korea.

The 63-year-old leader has become first sitting president to face charges of treason and insurrection as well as a travel ban.​​​​​​​