South Korea police raid President Yoon’s office over martial law declaration

South Korean police have raided the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his role in declaring martial law last week – a move that plunged Asia’s fourth-biggest economy into crisis and caused alarm among its allies.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the search on Wednesday was part of an attempt by law enforcement agencies to establish whether Yoon’s actions, supported by other senior figures in his administration, amounted to insurrection – a crime that does not carry presidential immunity and can carry the death penalty.

A special investigation unit confirmed it had raided the presidential office and other agencies, but it emerged later that Yoon’s security guards had prevented officers from getting into the main building.

Investigators had “gained access to its civil service office”, a police spokesperson said, adding: “However, we are currently unable to enter the main building due to access restrictions imposed by the presidential security guards.”

News of the raid came as officials said that Yoon’s former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, had attempted suicide while in custody at a detention centre in Seoul, where he had been held since Sunday.

Kim, who was formally arrested earlier on Wednesday after a court approved a warrant for him on allegations he played a key role in a rebellion and abuse of power, was in a stable condition, Shin Yong-hae, the commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, told lawmakers

Kim was the first person to be arrested over the 3 December martial law decree and faces charges including “engaging in critical duties during an insurrection” and “abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights”.

A spokesperson for the Seoul central district court said the formal arrest of Kim came amid concerns that evidence might be destroyed.

Two senior police officials were also taken into custody in the early hours of Wednesday, as the investigation into the political turmoil caused by the martial law declaration gathered pace.

At least several hundred protesters rallied late on Tuesday outside the national assembly, waving glow sticks and holding signs that read, “Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, the insurrection criminal”.

The offices of ruling party lawmakers were vandalised, local media reported on Tuesday, with one image showing a door covered in what appeared to be ketchup, and eggs and flour scattered on the floor.

Protesters sent condolence flowers, typically reserved for funerals, to the offices to express their opposition to the boycott, with signs reading “insurrection accomplices”.

Local police in Seoul’s Dobong district said an unspecified “weapon” was found in front of the PPP lawmaker Kim Jae-sub’s residence, and that he had requested additional security.

Yoon suspended civilian rule a week ago and sent special forces and helicopters to parliament, before lawmakers forced him to rescind the decree in a country assumed to be a stable democracy.

Kim was contrite on Tuesday, saying through his lawyers that “all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me”.

He “deeply apologised” to the South Korean people and said that his subordinates were “merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties”.