Yoon Suk-yeol's search and seizure, what the mobile phone and warehouse will reveal

Significant turning point in the special investigation

The investigation surrounding former President Yoon Suk-yeol has reached a significant turning point. On July 11, the special prosecutor conducted simultaneous searches of Yoon’s residence in Seocho-dong and a warehouse in Guri related to the death of Corporal Chae Mo, marking the entry into a phase of the investigation focused on securing substantial evidence. This action goes beyond mere expansion of the investigation or political signaling it is an attempt to objectively examine the essence of power exertion. In particular, the political suspicion surrounding the so-called "VIP anger theory" has evolved from being merely an interpretative issue to one that can be clarified through actual call records, messages, and internal documents, both digital and physical, thus increasing the gravity of the investigation. Former President Yoon is under suspicion of exerting external pressure on the Marine Corps investigation during his presidency, and this case is not just a matter of investigative intervention but has escalated to allegations of abuse of power as Commander-in-Chief, and even abuse of authority. In this context, the searches at his residence and the warehouse, as well as the securing of his personal cellphone, will be recorded as significant examples that clearly demonstrate the possibility of judicial verification by the power agencies.

Search and seizure of home and warehouse - securing physical evidence

The focus of this search and seizure operation is concentrated on two locations. The first is the AcroVista residence in Seocho-dong, Seoul, where former President Yoon lived, and the second is a rental container storage in Guri City, where personal items he has kept after leaving office are located. The special investigation team decided to conduct simultaneous searches at both places, believing they could secure important physical evidence. In particular, the Guri City storage is where belongings from the period when former President Yoon and his wife lived in the Hannam-dong official residence were moved, raising the possibility that it contains not just personal items but also various documents, meeting materials, and schedule records generated during his presidency. This storage was also mentioned during the investigation into the 'Geonjinbeopsa allegations' related to Mrs. Kim Geonhee, and it is evaluated as a repository of records that intersect between the private and public activities of the former presidential couple. In the case of the residence, the possibility of digital materials is noteworthy. The smartphone used by former President Yoon was secured at his residence, and the special investigation team is currently analyzing various digital traces such as text messages, voice records, photos, and messenger app conversation histories. The fact that both physical materials and digital data have been secured simultaneously is quite unusual and serves as a basis for supporting the reliability and legitimacy of the investigation.

Seizing Personal Mobile Phones - The Core of Digital Evidence

The acquisition of former President Yoon's personal mobile phone is being regarded as the most decisive breakthrough in the current investigation. Traditionally, it is common for presidents to use secure devices such as burner phones while performing official duties however, in this case, it has been confirmed that former President Yoon conducted conversations with the Minister of National Defense and aides using his personal phone. This not only reveals security vulnerabilities but also increases the likelihood that sensitive instructions or conversation records may be included. Experts believe that former President Yoon was not particularly security-conscious and likely used his personal phone without distinguishing between work-related and private communications. Such an environment heightens the possibility of extracting crucial data through forensic analysis, and it is anticipated that, in addition to call records, text messages, audio recording files, conversations on messenger apps like KakaoTalk, and even photos and videos may be included in the investigation. The special prosecutor is currently conducting digital forensic analysis of the secured smartphone in accordance with legal procedures, and it is expected that the analysis results will clarify what instructions former President Yoon issued at the time of the incident and how he communicated with others. In fact, these digital traces hold very high value as legal evidence, as they contain clear timestamps and details, unlike mere statements or assumptions.

Logic of the 'VIP Rage Theory' and the Special Prosecutor's Investigation

The starting point and the core of this investigation is the so-called 'VIP Anger Theory.' In July 2023, there have long been allegations that President Yoon Suk-yeol intervened in the direction of the case after being enraged by the report on the investigation results of the Marine Corps Corporal Chae death incident. At that time, the Marine Corps investigation team sought to hold the commanding officer of the higher unit accountable and intended to refer the case to the military prosecution, but it was reported that the investigation direction was suddenly changed due to the intervention of the President's Office, the highest command structure. In a recent special prosecution investigation, former National Security Office First Deputy Kim Tae-hyo stated that former President Yoon raised his voice and got angry after receiving the report. This is the first time an insider has acknowledged the substance of the VIP anger theory, and Kim's testimony is considered important as it supports the possibility that the former President's emotional reaction went beyond mere expression and led to directives or interference in the investigation. When such testimony is combined with digital evidence, 'instructions or tacit approval from the VIP' could be interpreted as a substantial obstruction of the investigation or abuse of power, which meets the criteria for the crime of abuse of authority under criminal law. Particularly, if it is proven that the President acted in a way that infringed upon the independence of the investigation, it could be evaluated as a serious violation of the duties of a national commander-in-chief.

A critical investigative phase where digital and physical evidence intersect

The current special investigation is clearly entering the stage of securing decisive evidence. Phone records, text messages, meeting materials, and internal memos are not mere fragmented clues but are core materials that can restore the temporal flow of events and the decision-making process. In particular, former President Yoon's personal mobile phone is acting as a key axis in the transition of the investigation, and it will serve as a crucial key to elucidating how power agencies operated and how the president influenced the investigation. Furthermore, the contents of the documents or items discovered in the copper warehouse have not yet been revealed, but the significance of the investigation is further emphasized by the fact that the location is not just a personal storage space but a site that bears traces of the activities of the presidential couple. If the materials within the warehouse and the analysis results of the mobile phone are interconnected in the future, the reliability and objectivity of the investigation will be greatly enhanced. Former President Yoon is currently in custody, and the special investigation is planning to conduct a face-to-face interrogation on July 14. Depending on how the results of the search and seizure, digital forensics, and former President Yoon's statements align, this case will move beyond political controversy into the realm of judicial judgment.

Conclusion: There is no power above the law

The search and seizure of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's residence and warehouse, as well as the securing of his personal mobile phone, are not merely tools for political debate. These actions are judicial acts conducted through fair procedures in accordance with the Constitution and laws, embodying the democratic principle that even those in power must be equal before the law. What has emerged from this investigation is not just the actions of an individual, but the structural necessity to review the governance style and decision-making framework of the highest authority. As forensic results and data analysis progress, the special investigation is getting increasingly closer to the truth of the case, aiming to reveal how politics, the military, and the judiciary are intertwined. Former President Yoon Seok-yeol's mobile phone and warehouse have become symbolic mediums that demonstrate the operation of power and accountability. It remains to be seen whether this investigation will position itself as a case that showcases the accountability and controllability of state power rather than a simple political conflict.