The Worst Existential Crisis for the Security Office... Internal Staff Also Feel "Anxious, Frustrated"

Presidential Security Service Blocks Yoon's Arrest... Calls for "Abolition" Grow
Legal Responsibility Looms for Staff... Internal Voices Say "It's Frustrating"
Security Service Chief Appears Before Police... Internal Turmoil Expected

The Presidential Security Service, which is blocking the execution of the arrest warrant against President Yoon Seok-yeol, is facing a crisis of survival. While the Security Service maintains its stance of "faithfully fulfilling the presidential security mission," voices of anxiety and frustration are emerging from within.

On the 10th, as the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters and the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gong-su-cheo) prepare for the second execution of President Yoon's arrest warrant, the Security Service is effectively preparing for a "siege" by blocking the area around the Hannam-dong residence with vehicle barriers and barbed wire. A Security Service official explained, "Even if there is a confrontation, the atmosphere is that physical clashes are absolutely not allowed, and especially the use of firearms is out of the question," but emphasized that the security stance remains unchanged.

This response by the Security Service is noteworthy as it could affect the organization's future. Eight bills to partially amend the "Act on the Protection of the President, etc." have been proposed just this week. Four of these propose abolishing the Security Service and transferring its roles to the police. The others include restrictions on the scope of protection and strengthening the responsibility for possession and use of weapons by Security Service personnel.

The Presidential Security Office, known as the "core of power" since the military regime era, has experienced ups and downs depending on the administration but has maintained its existence based on the reason of "ensuring the president's safety." However, this time, by blocking the execution of a warrant issued by the court and even risking physical clashes with the police, another state agency, many in the political and academic circles argue that control measures are necessary.

Uneasy sentiments are also detected within the Security Service. On the 9th, Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Some senior officials are engaging in these outrageous remarks and actions, which the MZ generation Security Service employees are very dissatisfied with." A Security Service official also said, "Since there are several hundred employees, we cannot check everyone," adding, "The interpretation is not very different. It is frustrating."

The increasing pressure from the police's investigation into obstruction of official duties by Security Service employees is also a burden. Earlier, on the 3rd, the police sent a formal request for identity verification of 26 Security Service employees who blocked the first execution of the arrest warrant to the Security Service on the 8th. The fact that Park Jong-jun, head of the Security Service, appeared at the police station on the 10th for questioning is also expected to be a variable influencing internal dynamics within the Security Service.