South Korea president’s office block prosecutors’ searches
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — Aides to South Korean President Park Geun-hye turned away prosecutors trying to search her official compound on Friday, a confrontation that highlights the high stakes at play as investigators look into a scandal that knocked her from power.
Prosecutors want to question Park and search the presidential Blue House for more information about events that led to her impeachment in December. Park has said she’s willing to be questioned, but her office maintains that a law blocks searches in areas with official secrets.
On Friday, a team of 20 prosecutors and investigators attempted to enter the Blue House in downtown Seoul after receiving a court-issued search warrant. But Blue House officials didn’t let them in, saying they were able to hand over documents to prosecutors, but not give them entrance.
Television stations showed the prosecutors waiting inside cars in a parking lot within the Blue House compound. After several hours, the prosecution team members withdrew.