The chief of South Korea’s corruption investigation body said Wednesday his office will seek to detain or arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol if conditions are met, as the probe continues into his short-lived declaration of martial law last week that has sparked fury in the country.
“If the situation allows, we will attempt to make an emergency arrest or an arrest based on a court warrant,” Oh Dong Woon, who heads the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as telling a parliamentary committee meeting in response to a lawmaker’s question.
The remark came as police attempted to raid the presidential office the same day as part of an investigation into Yoon’s alleged insurrection. But they said the office refused, citing “official and military secrecy.”
People take part in a rally in Seoul on Dec. 10, 2024, to protest against President Yoon Suk Yeol. (Getty/Kyodo)
Yonhap also reported that former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who is suspected of having colluded with Yoon’s invocation of martial law, attempted suicide at a detention facility in Seoul.
Following the attempt, Kim is being held in a protective cell and his health remains stable, the report said, citing a correctional official speaking at a parliamentary hearing.
The police raided the offices of the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the National Assembly Police Guards, Yonhap reported, after the emergency arrests of NPA chief Cho Ji Ho and Seoul police agency head Kim Bong Sik in the early hours of Wednesday.
Kim Yong Hyun, the former defense minister, was arrested by prosecutors late Tuesday for allegedly playing a key role in rebellion and abuse of power in connection with the declaration.
Kim Yong Hyun. (Yonhap/Kyodo)
The prosecutors allege that Kim ordered his deputies to deploy military personnel to the parliament building and the National Election Commission, the report said.
Martial law, declared for the first time since the country’s democratization in 1987, was in place for just six hours starting the night of Dec. 3 before being rescinded through a vote by lawmakers in the National Assembly.
Kim, who has been detained by prosecutors since Sunday, resigned as defense chief on Thursday, taking responsibility for the turmoil caused by the martial law declaration.
Sources close to South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party said the party plans to submit a motion in the assembly on Thursday to impeach Yoon and hold a parliamentary vote on the motion Saturday.
The motion would follow the first one submitted by six parties including the Democratic Party last week and survived by Yoon on Dec. 7 as it was scrapped due to a lack of the required number of voters in parliament.
Emergency service in Japan: 119
If you are having suicidal thoughts, help is available.
For Japan, call Yorisoi Hotline at 0120279338 (toll-free). Press 2 after the recorded message for consultation in English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Nepali, or Indonesian. The service in these languages is also available on Facebook messenger.
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S. Korea Pres. Yoon to step aside before resigning: party head
Japan wary South Korea turmoil may hurt improving bilateral ties
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