SOUTH KOREAN POLICE RAID PRESIDENT SUK YEOL'S OFFICE

Read Time:3 Minute, 15 Second

On Wednesday, South Korean police raided President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office as the investigation into his martial law declaration intensified.

Meanwhile, prison officials revealed that the country’s former defense minister attempted suicide just before his formal arrest in connection with the events of December 3.

The dramatic events involved the deployment of troops and helicopters to parliament in an apparent, but unsuccessful, effort to prevent lawmakers from rejecting Yoon’s martial law declaration.

Yoon, who faces significant unpopularity, is already under a travel ban as part of an investigation into an alleged “insurrection” involving his inner circle.

On Wednesday, a special investigation unit of South Korea’s police confirmed it had raided the presidential office, the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the National Assembly Security Service.

The statement did not provide additional details.

Authorities reported that former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide just before midnight on Tuesday (1500 GMT) while in custody.

Kim had been detained on Sunday, and the suicide attempt occurred just before his formal arrest, according to the justice ministry and a prison official.

They also stated that he was in good health on Wednesday.

Kim was arrested on charges of “engaging in critical duties during an insurrection” and “abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights.”

The former defence minister said through his lawyers that “all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me” and that subordinates were “merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties.”

He had already been slapped with a travel ban along with the former interior minister and the general in charge of the martial law operation.

Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were also arrested early Wednesday, police said.

– ‘Fascist dictatorship’ –

North Korean state media on Wednesday made its first comments about what it called the “chaos” in the South.

“The shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing impeachment and a governance crisis, suddenly declaring a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielding the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship wrought chaos across South Korea,” a commentary said.

Yoon had said his declaration of martial law was intended, in part, to safeguard South Korea “from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness.”

Relations between the two Koreas have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles in violation of UN sanctions.

Former defence minister Kim had been accused by opposition lawmakers of calling for strikes on sites from which North Korea was launching trash-carrying balloons, an order reportedly refused by his subordinates.

He also allegedly ordered drones sent to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang in an apparent attempt to provoke a conflict as a pretext for declaring martial law.

– Task force –

Yoon survived an impeachment motion in parliament on Saturday even as tens of thousands of South Koreans braved freezing temperatures to demand his ouster.

Further smaller protests have continued every evening since, with polls showing record-low public support for Yoon.

A special task force within Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday proposed a plan for the president to resign in February or March, followed by fresh elections in April or May.

However, the proposal has not yet been adopted by the party as a whole.

Even if approved, the roadmap is unlikely to head off another opposition attempt to impeach Yoon on Saturday.

The motion only needs eight members of Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) to secure the necessary two-thirds majority.

Last week, two PPP lawmakers—Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Yea-ji—voted in favour, and two more said Tuesday they would support the motion this time.

AFP