Joint Investigation Headquarters, Presidential Office Search and Seizure Standoff for 5 Hours...Security Office Building Entry Refused

The Joint Investigation Headquarters probing the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident' launched a search and seizure operation at the Presidential Security Service on the 17th but have been in a standoff for over five hours.

Investigators from the Joint Headquarters arrived at the Civil Affairs Office of the Presidential Office building around 10:20 a.m. but remain on standby.

The Joint Headquarters obtained a search warrant to seize communication records from the confidential phone of Police Chief Jo Ji-ho stored on the Security Service's server. On the day of martial law, Chief Jo made six calls to President Yoon Seok-yeol using the confidential phone.

The confidential phone is issued and managed by the Security Service. It is a secure mobile phone equipped with anti-tapping and call recording prevention programs, and the related server data is a key piece of evidence in the investigation.

The Security Service is reportedly refusing entry to the building citing official and military secrets. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, search or seizure cannot be conducted at the location without the consent of the person in charge.

On the 11th, the Joint Headquarters attempted to conduct search and seizure operations at the Yongsan Presidential Office and the Joint Chiefs of Staff but were denied entry by the Security Service for reasons of official and military secrets. At that time, only some materials were voluntarily submitted.

The Joint Headquarters have completed the search and seizure at Chief Jo's official residence. The Joint Headquarters is an investigative consultative body composed of the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.