South Korea raids ex-president's office, starts new probe

Photo : AFP

Police in South Korea went to search the office and home of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. They are checking if he broke the law before and after he was removed from his job.

In December, Yoon told army soldiers to go to the country’s parliament. Later, he changed his mind. But lawmakers had already voted to remove him from his job. After that, Yoon stayed inside the president’s house and did not let the police arrest him.

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He stayed there for many days in January. His bodyguards helped him. Finally, the police arrested him. He was the first South Korean president to be arrested while still in office. But the court later let him go because of legal rules.

Police said they were now looking for proof. They checked the president’s old office and house. They took some phone servers and video clips. They also searched the house of Yoon’s top bodyguard.

In January, Yoon’s guards put up fences and wire around the house. They did not let police come inside. Police had to use ladders to climb over the wall.

At that time, Yoon was charged with blocking the law. Police said this week that they still need to look into it fully.

Police also said they are doing a different check on the country’s former home minister. That’s why they also took video from the office.

On Monday, Yoon went to court for the first day of his trial. He is charged with trying to take power by force. Yoon said he did not do that. His next court day is on April 21. Experts say this case may take many months to finish.