Police Attempt Search and Seizure at Safe House... To Secure Documents Related to Martial Law

The police are attempting to conduct a search and seizure at the Presidential Office and the Samcheong-dong Safe House (Anga).

Yonhap News

The Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency arrived at the Samcheong-dong Anga around 1:35 PM on the 20th to secure CCTV footage and presented a search warrant. The Special Investigation Unit is also sending investigators to the Presidential Office building to discuss the execution of the search warrant.

On the 27th of last month, the Special Investigation Unit sent investigators to the Samcheong-dong Anga and the Presidential Office to present a search warrant for the Anga's CCTV footage, but the Security Office did not approve entry, resulting in a standoff lasting about three hours before the investigators returned empty-handed.

At that time, the Security Office refused the search citing official and military confidentiality. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, a search of locations involving military or official secrets requires the consent of the person in charge. However, the person responsible for the location must comply with the search unless it harms significant national interests.

The police plan to secure the CCTV footage and verify who entered and exited the Anga before and after the declaration of martial law, as well as what instructions were received from President Yoon Seok-yeol.