There Was a Reason the Road to Yoon's Residence Was Opened... Military and Police Security Office Did Not Actively Cooperate

Prosecutors Visit Official Residence to Execute Arrest Warrant
Military and Police Ignore Instructions from Acting Chief Choi...
55th Security Group of Defense Security Command and 202nd Security Group of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Hugwan Gongjikja Beomjoe Susa Cheo, Gongsucheo) began executing an arrest warrant against President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 3rd, but circumstances are emerging that the military and police did not actively cooperate with the Presidential Security Service (Gyeongho-cheo), which tried to block the execution. Gongsucheo is investigating President Yoon on charges of rebellion and abuse of power related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident.

According to police and military sources on the 4th, they did not resist Gongsucheo and either cleared the way at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, or did not respond to the Security Service's support requests. The Hannam-dong residence is protected by a three-layer security system. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s 202 Security Unit is responsible for outer perimeter security, the 55 Security Unit under the Army Capital Defense Command guards the residence fence, and the Security Service handles close protection inside the fence.

On the 3rd, when the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency proceeded to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, supporters of President Yoon Seok-yeol were struggling with the police at the entrance of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The first gate to the residence was opened by the Army Capital Defense Command (Subangsa) 55 Security Unit and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency 202 Security Unit. The 55 Security Unit reportedly opened the first iron gate toward the residence at 8:02 a.m. on the 3rd in response to cooperation requests from Gongsucheo and the police. The 55 Security Unit is a unit dispatched to the Security Service for outer perimeter protection of the presidential residence. Ordinary soldiers from Subangsa were mobilized to block the execution of the arrest warrant. Command and control authority over them lies with the Security Service. The 202 Security Unit, under the command of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, also did not actively block Gongsucheo at the outer perimeter.

Investigators who passed through the iron gate encountered buses parked horizontally. About 50 Security Service staff and an estimated 30 to 40 personnel from the 55 Security Unit were also present. However, this blockade was breached shortly afterward. During this process, Park Jong-jun, head of the Security Service, requested manpower support from the 55 Security Unit and the 202 Security Unit, but the leadership of both units reportedly showed no significant response. Defense Ministry officials stated this was in accordance with instructions to avoid physical confrontation with Gongsucheo.

The 202 Security Unit also maintained its position guarding the outer perimeter of the residence and did not enter inside. Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, also instructed Lee Ho-young, Acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency, to deploy police to the residence at the Security Service’s request, but the police did not comply. Some in the ruling party have criticized the military and police for effectively 'disobeying orders,' but the police reportedly maintain that they only questioned the legality of the cooperation request.

On the 3rd, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol. Presidential security personnel blocked the road within the presidential residence grounds in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul with vehicles. Photo by Yonhap News

Investigators who breached the first blockade climbed a hill about 100 to 150 meters and were again blocked by a wall of buses and Security Service staff at the second blockade. Avoiding this second blockade, they climbed an additional 80 to 150 meters along a mountain path and encountered a third blockade formed by buses and passenger cars. The Security and military personnel who formed the first and second blockades also climbed the hill to join the third blockade, linking arms to form a human chain of about 200 people standing side by side, according to Gongsucheo.

Ultimately, three Gongsucheo prosecutors passed the third blockade and reached the door of the residence, where they met President Yoon’s legal team, but the execution of the arrest warrant was halted after 5 hours and 26 minutes. Within Gongsucheo, there is a sentiment that it is necessary to calmly review follow-up measures rather than immediately re-executing the arrest warrant.

Meanwhile, the Security Service denied that the 55 Security Unit was mobilized. The Security Service stated, "To prepare for an escalation of confrontation upon Gongsucheo’s arrival, Security Service personnel were rotated in, and soldiers were reassigned to rear duties." However, they did not clarify the exact meaning of 'rear duties.'