7 Hours Waiting, Joint Team Failed To Search Yoon's Impeached Presidential Office

JAKARTA - South Korean investigator who investigated the military emergency declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to enter his office to find evidence. The security staff of the presidential office refused to let them in.

Yoon was impeached on Saturday on a military emergency decision and relieved of his presidency. Yonhap news agency said investigators seeking evidence about the validity of Yoon's military emergency decision waited about seven hours to be allowed in, but the presidential office security office refused to let them in.

A joint investigative team consisting of police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High Officials (CIO) is trying to access the computer server of the presidential office's security services to obtain telephone records including those used by police commissioners, Yonhap said, citing the team.

This is the second time authorities have tried and failed to search the presidential office regarding the implementation of an emergency that was canceled within hours of a dispute with parliament.

Efforts on December 11 ended empty-handed because the team was prohibited from entering. However, the presidential office voluntarily submitted some data.

The security office of the presidential office said it would state its stance on Wednesday, December 18 regarding cooperation in raids, Yonhap reported.

Yoon has formed a legal team to defend himself against charges of rebellion and in the case of the Constitutional Court that will decide whether to dismiss him from his post or restore his power.

Seok Dong-hyun, a lawyer and former prosecutor who helped Yoon, said the president's declaration of martial law was not an uprising, Yonhap reported.

Yoon will also " confidently state his position in the Court (Constitution)," Yonhap quoted Seok as saying.