South Korea: Police analysing Yoon's phone records in martial law probe

Seoul (The Uttam Hindu): South Korea's police have been analysing President Yoon Suk Yeol's personal phone records after securing them as part of their investigation into his botched declaration of martial law earlier this month, officials said.

The police special investigation team handling the case is checking the records for conversations with individuals allegedly involved in the imposition of martial law on December 3 after obtaining them through a warrant, Yonhap news agency reported. Police are also working to obtain a secure phone used by Yoon and its records from the Presidential Security Service.

Separately, police have acquired a document Yoon handed to Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok during a Cabinet meeting that took place shortly before the martial law declaration. The document reportedly outlines measures to cut off operational expenses for the National Assembly and to form a budget for the legislature under martial law.

On December 13, Choi told lawmakers the document called for securing fiscal funds and liquidity under martial law. The police have so far questioned ten of the 12 attendees of the December 3 Cabinet meeting after Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho appeared before them Saturday. They have yet to question Yoon and former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Police believe the gathering had procedural and substantive problems due to the lack of the meeting's minutes and documents proving that deliberation took place.