According to South Korean media outlets, the Presidential Security Service asserted that the targeted locations or items involved military or official secrets, thus refusing to permit the search. After a 10-hour standoff, the police decided to abort the operation, Xinhua reported.
The search by the police aimed to collect evidence related to Yoon's attempt on Jan. 3 to obstruct the execution of an arrest warrant led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and the police.
To clarify the details about Yoon's declaration of an emergency martial law on Dec. 3 last year, the police have attempted to conduct search and seizure operations at the presidential office and residence for several times, all of which ended without success.