Director Park Jong-jun of the Security Office Appears Before Police... President Yoon's Side Says "Do Not Undermine the Security Office"

All-out Pressure on the Security Service
Large-Scale Mobilization of Veteran Detectives

Park Jong-jun, Chief of the Presidential Security Service, appeared before the police on the morning of the 10th. He was there to undergo police questioning related to charges of obstructing the execution of President Yoon Suk-yeol's arrest warrant.

Park Jong-jun, Chief of Security for the President, is speaking to reporters as he arrives at the National Investigation Headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 10th to be questioned on charges of obstruction of special official duties for blocking the execution of an arrest warrant issued by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Upon his appearance at the police station that day, Chief Park said, "I understand that many citizens are deeply concerned about the situation where government agencies are clashing and confronting each other," adding, "I believe that under no circumstances should physical clashes or bloodshed occur." He continued, "I will fully disclose all details today and cooperate with the investigation," and said, "(The investigation into the president) is not a procedure involving the execution of an arrest warrant as it is currently. I hope it proceeds in a manner befitting the nation's dignity." By this, he subtly indicated that while he will comply with the investigation process, the Security Service can continue to block the execution of the arrest warrant issued by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) against President Yoon.

The police may take measures such as requesting an arrest warrant after investigating Chief Park. Regarding this, Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Gap-geun, stated, "Since the Chief of Security is outside the security zone, the Deputy Chief of Security will act in his stead according to regulations until the investigation is completed and he returns."

The police are applying comprehensive pressure on the Security Service. The Special Investigation Unit has issued a third summons to Kim Seong-hoon, Deputy Chief of Security, for 10 a.m. on the 11th, and a second summons to Lee Jin-ha, Director of the Security and Safety Headquarters, by 2 p.m. the same day. On the 3rd, the police sent an official letter to the Security Service requesting identification of 26 individuals who obstructed the execution of President Yoon’s arrest warrant at the Hannam-dong residence. A police official said, "We will decide whether to file charges based on the degree of involvement in illegal acts and the possibility of future illegal activities." The police intend to shake the members of the Security Service who are blocking the president’s arrest, dismantling them step by step through a 'divide and conquer' strategy.

Park Jong-jun, the head of the Presidential Security Service who blocked the execution of the arrest warrant issued by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials against President Yoon Suk-yeol, is appearing at the National Investigation Headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 10th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Neither the timing nor the method of executing the arrest warrant has been decided yet, according to the CIO and the police. Currently, it is widely expected that the police will carry out the operation around next week after investigating key Security Service officials such as the Deputy Chief of Security and the Director of the Security and Safety Headquarters. If the police succeed in dismantling the Security Service’s command structure as intended, the situation will change; otherwise, they will have no choice but to remove chains and barbed wire around the presidential residence one by one and enter by avoiding the vehicle barricades.

The police reportedly sent official letters to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Metropolitan Investigation Unit, Narcotics Crime Unit, Anti-Corruption Unit, Public Crime Unit, Financial Crime Investigation Unit, and Criminal Mobile Unit, instructing them to prepare for possible deployment during the execution of the arrest warrant. The arrest team plans to use a tactic where four personnel each subdue one individual. This operation could take several days and raises concerns about physical clashes. However, Woo Jong-su, head of the National Investigation Headquarters, previously told lawmakers from the People Power Party, "Reports in the media about the deployment of police special forces, armored vehicles, and helicopters have not been considered at all and are just fictional stories."

President Yoon’s legal team issued a statement saying, "Attempts to neutralize presidential security are self-inflicted threats to national security," and added, "The cunning summons of Security Service personnel through abuse of investigative authority must be stopped immediately."