Acting Chief Choi Requests 'Security Office Cooperation'... Corruption Investigation Office Chief Says "Potential Illegality"

"Review of Applying Charges for Aiding and Abetting Obstruction of Special Official Duties"

Odongwoon, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department, pointed out that Choi Sangmok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Strategy and Finance, requesting the police for 'cooperation with the Presidential Security Service' has a "very high possibility of illegality."

Barbed wire has been installed at the Presidential Residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, one week ahead of the formal impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

On the 7th, Chief Odongwoon responded this way to related inquiries from Lee Seongyun and Park Beomgye, members of the Democratic Party of Korea, during the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. It was reported that on the 3rd, when the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department began executing the arrest warrant for President Yoon, Acting President Choi requested Lee Hoyoung, Acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency, to deploy police officers to the presidential residence at the request of the Presidential Security Service. At that time, the police officers executing the warrant alongside the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department did not comply with Choi's request.

Chief Odongwoon pointed out, "Acting President Choi, who holds personnel authority over the head and deputy head of the Security Service, has the duty to prevent such acts from occurring," adding, "Nevertheless, he requested police senior officials to act contrary to this." He further added, "We are currently reviewing whether charges such as aiding and abetting obstruction of special official duties can be applied."