South Korea: Authorities Conduct Raid at Former Defence Minister’s Residence and Office

Seoul, Dec 8 (NationPress) Authorities conducted a raid on the official residence and office of former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Sunday, as reported by officials, amidst a growing investigation concerning treason allegations related to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s fleeting declaration of martial law last week.

A police investigation team has also secured a court warrant that details accusations of treason and mutiny under military criminal law to obtain Kim’s call records, according to officials.

This action came after Kim’s arrest by a prosecution-led special investigation headquarters earlier that day. The team seized Kim’s mobile device and transported him to a detention center in Seoul, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

During Sunday’s raid, authorities confiscated a mobile phone believed to belong to Kim, along with approximately 17 additional digital devices.

Authorities plan to conduct a forensic analysis on the phone to determine if it was utilized by Kim during the imposition of martial law.

It appears that Kim may have discarded his mobile device following the turmoil surrounding martial law.

In an effort to broaden its investigation into the failed martial law declaration, authorities announced they will send an additional 30 officers to form a 150-member special investigation team.

Meanwhile, authorities indicated that they are not contemplating a joint investigation regarding the martial law declaration with the prosecution.

This response followed statements from Park Se-hyun, who is leading a special investigation headquarters into the matter, during a press briefing where he indicated that the prosecution is open to collaborating with police if requested for a joint probe.