South Korea’s investigators failed to raid President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office for the second time this month, as they were denied entry by the presidential security service. The team was seeking phone records and computer server access to gather evidence about Yoon’s martial law declaration.
The investigation follows a short-lived martial law declaration that was reversed after a standoff with parliament. Yoon has been impeached and suspended from his duties, and authorities have struggled to contact or summon him for questioning.
Lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, who is helping Yoon defend himself, denied that the president’s actions constituted insurrection. He stated that Yoon would confidently express his position in the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to remove him from office or restore his powers.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo has called for a swift implementation of next year’s government budget to support the country’s slowing economy. The government plans to frontload 75% of its 2025 budget during the first half of the year to revive the economy.
South Korea faces economic challenges, including a slowdown in export growth and heightened uncertainty due to US President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to hike tariffs. The foreign ministry has launched a task force to respond to the new administration’s foreign policies.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-acting-president-han-calls-speedy-implementation-2025-budget-2024-12-17