The attempt to raid President Yoon Suk-Yeol's office came after last week's sudden and controversial announcement to declare a state of emergency. But the president's security guards prevented the police from searching the premises, according to the police.
The opposition accuses the president's aides of illegally protecting a rebel, reports AFP.
Simultaneously, raids were conducted on the national police agency, Seoul's police department, and the division responsible for police surveillance of parliament.
The raids took place hours after South Korea's national police chief Cho Ji-Ho and Seoul police chief Kim Bong-Sik were arrested.
The suicide attempt was interrupted
On Tuesday, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyon was also formally arrested, suspected of involvement in what the opposition has described as a coup attempt signed by the president and his closest circle. Kim then attempted to commit suicide in his cell, said Shin Yong-Hae, head of the correctional service, to parliamentarians on Wednesday.
According to Shin, the suicide attempt was interrupted by staff, and Kim's condition is described as stable.
Both Kim and the two police chiefs are being investigated for attempting to carry out a rebellion.
Forced to back down quickly
President Yoon Suk-Yeol declared a state of emergency last Tuesday, but was forced to back down from it just six hours later, after the 190 lawmakers who quickly gathered in parliament unanimously voted against it.
Since then, the pressure on the president to resign has steadily increased. On Saturday, Yoon apologized, but without resigning. Later the same day, he narrowly avoided being impeached in parliament, as his party colleagues boycotted the vote.
South Korea's opposition leader has stated that he will try to impeach President Yoon through a new vote on December 14.
