Independent Counsel Calls for Blue House Raid

[Anchor]

As the independent counsel continues to warn of a raid of the Blue House, the Blue House is abiding by its firm position that they will not let them in without a fight.

Underneath the tension between the two sides, a fierce legal battle is taking place surrounding what could be the first raid of the Blue House in Korea's constitutional history.

Kim Min-hye has more.

[Reporter]

The independent counsel announced that it has finished all legal reviews ahead of searching the Blue House, warning of an all-out raid.

<Lee Gyu-cheol / Spokesperson for Special Prosecutors> "If a raid of the Blue House becomes possible, we plan to conduct a raid with regards to all of the charges raised so far."

The Blue House is countering the pressure from the prosecutors with the principle position that any raids of the Blue House must be conducted in accordance with precedent.

During the raid last October by a special investigation team of prosecutors, the Blue House did not give them access, citing state secrets as reasons.

They are expected this time to again cite laws that prohibit searching places that require secrecy for military or official reasons.

However, such laws are limited to cases when vital national interests could be compromised.

Consequently, the prosecutors are expected to try to forestall the Blue House’s reasoning as they apply for a search warrant.

Legal experts say that the search has to be “specific within a range that the court can approve of,” and that they should “try to compress as much as possible any data they can get without harming national security.”

The independent counsel has also repeatedly stressed their will to investigate the president on a face-to-face basis, in whatever manner possible.

Much attention is directed at whether an unprecedented raid of the Blue House will become possible.

Kim Min-hye reporting for Yonhap News TV.

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