Corruption Investigation Office "Re-requested Cooperation and Command from Presidential Security Service to Acting Chief Choi Sang-mok" (Update)

Choi Did Not Respond to Cooperation Request on the 1st
Corruption Investigation Office Sends Second Official Letter... Yoon's Determination to Arrest

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO) sent an official letter on the 4th to Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, requesting him to direct the Presidential Security Service (PSS) to cooperate in executing an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol. The HCIO is investigating President Yoon on charges of rebellion and abuse of power related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident.

The HCIO stated, "This afternoon, we sent another official letter to Acting Prime Minister Choi, the supervisory authority over the PSS, requesting him to direct the PSS to cooperate." The HCIO had previously announced that after the failure to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon the day before, it would "strongly demand Acting Prime Minister Choi, who supervises the PSS, to order the PSS to comply with the execution of the arrest warrant." The day before, President Yoon and the PSS refused the HCIO's arrest attempt.

On the morning of the 3rd, as officials from the Corruption Investigation Office entered the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, supporters of President Yoon gathered on the road near the residence in Hannam-dong to hold an anti-impeachment rally. Photo by Heo Young-han

The HCIO is understood to have sent the electronic official letter to the Ministry of Economy and Finance around 5 p.m. that day. However, it is unknown whether Acting Prime Minister Choi will respond. Earlier, on the 1st, the HCIO also sent official letters to Acting Prime Minister Choi, Presidential Secretary General Jeong Jin-seok, and Director Bang Gi-seon of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, requesting them to direct the PSS and others to cooperate with the execution procedures, but Acting Prime Minister Choi has not yet replied.

Secretary General Jeong responded, "The Presidential Secretary General does not have the authority to supervise or direct the PSS," and Director Bang reportedly did not respond separately.