South Korea police raid presidential office over martial law attempt
The president and his allies are currently facing insurrection charges, and a travel ban has been slapped on several of them.
BBC | Police in South Korea are raiding the presidential office, following last week's attempt by President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law in the country.
The president and his allies are currently facing insurrection charges, and a travel ban has been slapped on several of them.
He has been accused of treason, a crime he doesn’t have immunity from as president, and investigators have said they will arrest him if sufficient evidence emerges.
The country is in political turmoil. It’s unclear what, if any, authority Yoon now has, and protesters are still on the streets calling for him to stand down.
Overnight, the former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, tried to take his life in custody. He’s accused of helping to lead the martial law effort, and is the highest-ranking official to have been arrested so far.
South Korea's ex-defence minister who took responsibility for the declaration has attempted suicide in detention, a justice ministry official has told parliament.
President Yoon has apologised for the attempt but has not accepted growing calls for him to step down.
Last weekend, an attempt to impeach the president failed, after members of his own ruling party boycotted the vote - but opposition members are set to hold another impeachment vote this weekend and have vowed to hold one every Saturday until Yoon is gone.
North Korean media reported on the martial law declaration on Wednesday, calling it an "insane" attempt by a "fascist dictator".
