South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol salutes after delivering his speech, October 1, 2024. Kim Hong-ji, Pool/AFP/File

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1733885549471172794591264320241003091052_SkoreaMilitaryAnniversary.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol salutes after delivering his speech, October 1, 2024. Kim Hong-ji, Pool/AFP/File </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>South Korean police said Wednesday that they raided President Yoon Sook Yeol&#x27;s office, as the investigation into his declaration of martial law gathers pace.</p><p>&quot;The Special Investigation Team has conducted a raid on the presidential office, the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the National Assembly Security Service,&quot; the unit stated in a message sent to AFP.</p><p>Yoon is already under a travel ban as part of an &quot;insurrection&quot; probe into his inner circle after his short-lived suspension of civilian rule on December 3.</p><p>Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun was formally arrested late Tuesday on charges of &quot;engaging in critical duties during an insurrection&quot; and &quot;abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights&quot;.</p><p>On Wednesday, Yonhap reported that Kim had attempted to kill himself shortly before the arrest.</p><p>A spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court told AFP earlier in the day that Kim had been arrested amid concerns that evidence might be destroyed.</p><p>Kim said through his lawyers that &quot;all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me&quot; and that subordinates were &quot;merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties&quot;.</p><p>Kim, who was detained Sunday, has been slapped with a travel ban along with the former interior minister and the general in charge of the martial law operation.</p><p>The operation saw troops and helicopters sent to parliament in an apparent -- but failed -- attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting down Yoon&#x27;s martial law declaration.</p><p>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.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2024/12/7/watch-south-korea-president-yoon-apologizes-for-martial-law-declaration-1528">WATCH: South Korea President Yoon apologizes for martial law declaration</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2024/12/7/south-korea-president-escapes-impeachment-over-martial-law-fiasco-2129">South Korea president escapes impeachment over martial law fiasco</a></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;FASCIST DICTATORSHIP&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>North Korean state media Wednesday made its first comments on what it called &quot;chaos&quot; in the South.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; a commentary said.</p><p>Yoon had said his declaration of martial law was intended, in part, to safeguard South Korea &quot;from the threats posed by North Korea&#x27;s communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements plundering people&#x27;s freedom and happiness&quot;.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TASK FORCE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Yoon survived an impeachment motion in parliament on Saturday even as tens of thousands of South Koreans braved freezing temperatures outside to demand his ouster.</p><p>Further smaller protests have continued every evening since with polls showing record-low public support for Yoon.</p><p>A special task force within Yoon&#x27;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.</p><p>But the proposal has not yet been adopted by the party as a whole.</p><p>Even if it is approved, the roadmap is unlikely to head off another attempt by the opposition to impeach Yoon on Saturday.</p><p>The motion only needs eight members of Yoon&#x27;s People Power Party (PPP) to secure the necessary two-thirds majority.</p><p>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.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2024/12/10/k-pop-and-light-sticks-fire-up-impeachment-protests-in-south-korea-1707">K-pop and light sticks fire up impeachment protests in South Korea</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2024/12/10/south-korea-slaps-travel-bans-on-more-top-officials-1830">South Korea slaps travel bans on more top officials</a></div><div><em>More details to follow. </em></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>South Korean police said Wednesday that they raided President Yoon Sook Yeol's office, as the investigation into his declaration of martial law gathers pace.</p>

South Korean police said Wednesday that they raided President Yoon Sook Yeol's office, as the investigation into his declaration of martial law gathers pace.

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South Korea police raid president's office

South Korea police raid president's office

Agence France-Presse

Published Dec 11, 2024 10:54 AM PHT

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Updated Dec 11, 2024 12:03 PM PHT

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