The search continues as South Korean police raid an Evangelical Baptist Church in Anseong for suspected owner of Chonghaejin Marine, operator of the Sewol ferry that sank in April with some 304 passengers - most of them children who were presumed to have drowned.

Around 6,000 police officers stormed the Evangelical Baptist Church in Anseong on Wednesday to search for Yoo Byung Eun, 72, who is a co-founder of the church, said a spokesman for Gyeonggi province.

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Police dogs were also brought into the church complex to sniff for scents from Yoo's belongings.

Although police were not able to find Yoo, they were able to detain 3 church members who were suspected of aiding Yoo evade arrest after prosecutors had summoned him on charges of tax evasion, embezzlement and criminal negligence.

An unnamed prosecutor had told media that police are also looking for 10 more people believed to be accomplices to the escape of Yoo and his son, Yoo Dae Kyun, who is also wanted for embezzlement.

The all-out manhunt came a day after South Korean President Park Geun Hye urged police to exert more effort in the search for Yoo amid growing public pressure for accountability over the Sewol disaster almost 2 months ago.

A $500,000 reward is posted for Yoo's capture, the biggest for any individual in a criminal case, while a $100,000 reward is posted for Yoo Dae Kyun.

According to GMA News, local authorities have also enlisted the help of the military to search for the 72-year-old who they believe is still in the country.

"We haven't received information that they have stowed away of left for somewhere," said Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency commissioner Lee Sang Won.

Units in the south and west areas are also on the lookout for Yoo and his son, in case the 2 might intend to leave the country secretly, said a spokesperson for the defense ministry.

However, as the massive manhunt continues with still no sign of Yoo, some are starting to wonder if the raid was staged just to appease the outraged public.

President Park said "it made no sense" that authorities were still not able to find any sign or clues to Yoo's whereabouts even after the massive operation on Wednesday.

Independent political commentator Yu Chang Seon believed the search to be too excessive.

"Considering the charges against Yoo, this is basically a financial case. We should be holding him responsible to some degree, but the scale of the whole thing is unprecedented."

Meanwhile, Yoo Byung Il, Yoo's elder brother was apprehended by police on Friday near the Anseong compound, according to The Straits Times.

Yoo's daughter, Yoo Som Na, was also detained in France since May 28 after Interpol called for her arrest for charges of fraud and embezzlement. She was denied bail on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

TagsYoo Byung Eun, Park Geun Hye, Sewol ferry disaster, Chonghaejin, Lee Sang Won, Yoo Byung Il, Yoo Som Na, Fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion, criminal negligence, Yu Chang Seon, Yoo Dae Kyun, Evangelical Baptist Church, Anseong, World News, Disaster, ship, wanted