South Korean police conducted a raid on the office of former president Yoon Suk Yeol and his security team on Wednesday (April 16, 2025), as part of an escalating criminal investigation into the impeached leader.
Yoon imposed martial law in December, deploying armed soldiers to parliament before eventually reversing his decision. Subsequently, he was swiftly impeached by lawmakers, but resisted arrest for several weeks during the criminal investigation.
Following a prolonged standoff, with his security team playing a significant role, he became the first sitting head of State in South Korea to be arrested in January. However, he was later released on procedural grounds.
Police confirmed the execution of a search and seizure warrant at the presidential office and the presidential residence complex.
Authorities seized encrypted phone servers and conducted a raid on Yoon’s presidential security team’s office, as well as the residence of his chief of security, as part of an investigation into “alleged obstruction of an arrest warrant execution”.
Yoon remained secluded in his compound in January, under the protection of loyal members of the Presidential Security Service.
His security team had erected barbed wire and barricades around the residence, necessitating the use of ladders and scaling of perimeter walls by hundreds of police officers and investigators to access the main building.
During that time, he faced charges of obstruction, with police indicating that an investigation would be required.
Additionally, police confiscated CCTV footage from the presidential office in connection with a separate inquiry involving former interior minister Lee Sang-min.
Yoon appeared in court on Monday for the commencement of his criminal trial on charges of insurrection.
He denied the allegations of insurrection. The next hearing is scheduled for April 21, and experts anticipate that the trial will extend over several months.
Published – April 16, 2025 10:11 am IST
