South Korean police search President Yoon’s office over martial law imposition, reports say

South Korean news agency Yonhap reports police search President Yoon Suk Yeol's office over martial law declaration, sparking political turmoil in South Korea.

Yonhap news agency says police are searching President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office.

Yonhap says the search is happening on Wednesday (December 11, 2024) over Mr. Yoon’s December 3 martial law declaration.

Police didn't immediately confirm the report.

The reported search happens as the country’s main law enforcement institutions are focusing on finding whether Mr. Yoon and others involved in the December 3 martial law imposition committed rebellion.

South Korea’s two highest police officers have been detained to be investigated for their roles in enforcing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law decree last week, police said Wednesday (December 11, 2024).

The development comes hours before the main liberal opposition Democratic Party submits a new motion to impeach Mr. Yoon as the country’s main law enforcement institutions expand their investigation into whether the President’s declaration amounted to rebellion. The first impeachment attempt failed last Saturday when the ruling party boycotted the vote. The Democratic Party said it aims to put the new motion to a vote on Saturday (December 14, 2024).

Mr. Yoon’s ill-conceived power grab has paralyzed South Korean politics, frozen its foreign policy, and rattled financial markets, greatly reducing his chances of completing his five-year term and casting a turbulent shadow over one of Asia’s most robust democracies.