South Korean police raid President Yoon's office amid crisis over martial law decree

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the search yesterday was part of an attempt to establish whether Yoon's actions, supported by other senior figures in his administration, amounted to insurrection – a crime that does not carry presidential immunity and can carry the death penalty.

- Justin McCurry

A special investigation unit confirmed it had raided the presidential office and other agencies, but it emerged later that Yoon's security guards had prevented officers from getting into the main building.

Investigators had "gained access to its civil service office", a police spokesperson said, adding: "However, we are currently unable to enter the main building due to access restrictions imposed by the presidential security guards."

Officials said that Yoon's former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, had attempted suicide while in custody at a detention centre in Seoul, where he had been held since Sunday.

Kim, who was formally arrested yesterday after a court approved a warrant on allegations he played a role in a rebellion and abuse of power, was in a stable condition, Shin Yong-hae, the commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, said.