Synopsis
On January 20, South Korean police attempted to access the Presidential Security Service and a safe house linked to President Yoon Suk Yeol amid ongoing investigations into his martial law declaration. The PSS denied entry, citing legal restrictions, as Yoon faced serious charges following his controversial actions.Key Takeaways
- Police attempted to search the PSS and a safe house.
- Yoon Suk Yeol faces charges of insurrection.
- Previous searches were obstructed by the PSS.
- Yoon was moved to a solitary cell after his arrest.
- Surveillance footage is crucial for the investigation.
Seoul, Jan 20 (NationPress) On Monday, South Korean law enforcement made yet another attempt to gain access to the Presidential Security Service (PSS) and a presidential safe house in their investigation surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law initiative.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., investigators arrived at the presidential office located in the central Seoul district of Yongsan, along with the safe house situated in the Samcheong-dong area, aiming to retrieve surveillance footage.
This safe house was the venue where Yoon convened with the national and Seoul police chiefs to deliberate on his martial law strategy just three hours prior to his announcement of the decree on December 3.
Authorities aimed to collect surveillance data from the safe house, which is stored on a server at the PSS office, to ascertain who accessed the location before and after Yoon's martial law declaration and what directives were provided.
However, they were compelled to vacate the premises shortly after 5 p.m. as the PSS refused entry, citing regulations that necessitate consent from relevant authorities for searches pertaining to military secrets or classified governmental information, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
This raid occurred a day after Yoon was formally arrested on charges of inciting insurrection and abusing power, with several senior PSS officials either resigning or facing investigation in relation to the case.
Previous efforts to search these sites have largely been thwarted due to the PSS's resistance.
Earlier in the day, Yoon Suk Yeol was relocated to a solitary confinement cell in the general wing of the Seoul Detention Center following his formal arrest over the weekend, according to a correctional official.
Yoon was moved to a 12-square-meter cell at the detention facility located in Uiwang, south of Seoul, on Sunday after the Seoul Western District Court issued a warrant for his formal arrest, confirmed Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service.
