Special Prosecutor's Attempt to Search People Power Party Floor Leader's Office Thwarted for Second Consecutive Day

Special Prosecutor's Search of People Power Party Floor Leader's Office Blocked Again
Lawmakers Stage Sit-In, Citing Need for Speaker's Approval
Investigation Continues Into Alleged Obstruction of Martial Law Vote

The special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, which is investigating allegations of interference in the vote to lift martial law, attempted once again to conduct a search and seizure of the People Power Party floor leader's office, but the attempt was thwarted yet again.

According to legal sources, on the morning of September 3, the special prosecutor's team tried to execute a search and seizure warrant for the People Power Party floor leader's office and the party's administrative office, but was blocked by People Power Party lawmakers and unable to enter. The lawmakers held a general assembly and staged a sit-in protest in the hallway in front of the floor leader's office and the administrative office, physically preventing entry.

Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is entering the floor leader's office of the People Power Party at the National Assembly in Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

The special prosecutor's team had also attempted to search the floor leader's office the previous day, but withdrew after being unable to enter due to opposition from the opposition parties.

The People Power Party has labeled the special prosecutor's efforts as a "witch hunt against the opposition" and "excessive investigation," and has announced an indefinite sit-in protest. The party also argued that the National Assembly is classified as a "priority security facility," meaning entry is not permitted without the Speaker's approval, and claimed that the period specified in the warrant-dating back to May of last year-is excessively long.

The special prosecutor is currently investigating allegations that former People Power Party floor leader Chu Kyungho, at the request of former President Yoon Sukyeol's camp, repeatedly changed the location of the general assembly to obstruct the vote to lift martial law.