Joint team formed to probe martial law debacle

By AJP Posted : December 11, 2024, 19:38 Updated : December 12, 2024, 08:00
The presidential compound in Yongsan, Seoul is seen, in this photo taken on Dec. 5, 2024. Yonhap
SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - A team of investigators from three different agencies is set to launch a joint probe into President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt declaration of martial law last week.

Consisting of investigators from the Ministry of Defense, the National Police Agency, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), an independent agency established to root out corruption in government, the team formed on Wednesday aims to minimize inefficiency and confusion caused by overlapping investigations, while enhancing synergy through collaboration and leveraging each agency's strengths.

The team vowed to thoroughly investigate the case without any doubts, regardless of the individuals involved, to uncover how and why Yoon declared the late-night martial law last Tuesday, which ended in failure after lawmakers unanimously voted to reject it several hours later.

Earlier in the day, police tried to raid on the presidential office to search for documents and any records related to the aborted martial law order, but they were prevented from entering by security staff, who, citing procedural issues, demanded prior consultation, resulting in an hours-long standoff.
 
Protesters hold a candlelight vigil in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on Dec. 11, 2024, calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Yonhap
Despite mounting calls for him to step down, the embattled president appears to have sought his legal defense team, according to sources, as his political future hangs in the balance.

Yoon has been holed up in his official residence in Hannam-dong after making a brief apology last Saturday.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the National Assembly plans to vote on whether to impeach Yoon over his aborted martial law declaration, which has rattled the entire country.

Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.