Synopsis
On January 20, South Korean police made another attempt to investigate the Presidential Security Service and a presidential safe house linked to President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law initiative. This follows Yoon's arrest on insurrection charges, raising security concerns among officials.Key Takeaways
- Police renewed their search efforts of the Presidential Security Service.
- Yoon Suk Yeol was formally arrested on insurrection charges.
- Surveillance footage aims to identify individuals involved before and after the martial law declaration.
- Security measures are heightened amid fears of drastic actions from Yoon's supporters.
- Previous search attempts were met with resistance from the PSS.
Seoul, Jan 20 (NationPress) South Korea's police initiated a renewed effort on Monday to conduct a search of the Presidential Security Service and a presidential safe house as part of their probe into President Yoon Suk Yeol's unsuccessful martial law initiative.
Investigators arrived at the presidential office situated in the central Seoul district of Yongsan, where the PSS operates, as well as the safe house located in the Samcheong-dong area, aiming to obtain surveillance camera recordings.
The safe house served as the meeting place for Yoon and the national and Seoul police leaders, where they deliberated on martial law strategies three hours prior to the decree announcement on December 3.
By obtaining surveillance footage from the safe house, whose server is maintained at the PSS office, police intend to pinpoint individuals who accessed the site before and after Yoon's martial law declaration, as well as the directives they received.
This raid follows Yoon's formal arrest on charges of orchestrating an insurrection and abusing power, while senior PSS officials either resigned or are currently under scrutiny related to this matter.
Previous attempts to search these sites largely faltered due to opposition from the PSS, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Earlier today, Yoon Suk Yeol was transferred to a solitary confinement cell in the general wing of the Seoul Detention Center following his formal arrest over the weekend, as stated by a correctional official.
Yoon was relocated to a 12-square-meter cell at the detention center in Uiwang, south of Seoul, on Sunday after the Seoul Western District Court issued a warrant for his formal arrest, according to Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service.
"(Yoon) was moved from a holding area for suspects to the general detention wing, and I received a report confirming he spent the night comfortably," Shin conveyed to lawmakers during a session of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee.
According to Shin, Yoon's cell, typically accommodating five or six individuals, is akin in size to those where previous presidents have been imprisoned.
The official informed lawmakers that Yoon complied with official detention procedures, which included taking a mug shot and undergoing a physical assessment. He also highlighted that a personal correctional officer has been assigned for Yoon's protection.
Shin mentioned that his office is collaborating with the police and the Presidential Security Service to guarantee security amidst fears that Yoon's supporters might resort to extreme actions, such as attempting to liberate the detained president.
