Yoon Geon-young: "The Security Office is unsettled... Armed response only fuels conflict between law enforcement agencies"

"Security Team Armament Was for Show"
Security Service Employee's Text Message Revealed... "Staff Are in Turmoil"

Regarding reports that President Yoon Suk-yeol recently instructed senior officials of the Presidential Security Service to consider the use of force in executing a second arrest warrant by investigative agencies, Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized it as "an act that undermines the legal system of the Republic of Korea and turns the Security Service itself into a private army."

Yoon Geon-young, Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 13th, appearing on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Representative Yoon said, "Yoon Suk-yeol's current behavior is inciting a fight between law enforcement agencies," adding, "'I am above the law. You cannot arrest me,' which is illegal."

Regarding Lee Kwang-woo, head of the Security Headquarters, and Kim Seong-hoon, deputy head of the Security Service, who are considered 'hardliners' within the Security Service, he pointed out, "They are key figures who have turned the Security Service into a kind of private army by making them follow insane orders."

Representative Yoon said, "It is said that former Security Service chief Park Jong-jun presented several principles to the Security Service before going for police questioning. The first was non-violence, and the second was to open up when police investigators arrive after forming a scrum," adding, "Deputy head Kim Seong-hoon overturned everything. Notably, he ordered the anti-terrorism team to 'wear full military gear, put firearms in bags, and even carry live ammunition. However, do not load the weapons. Also, make sure to be exposed to the media,'" he said.

He added, "It was like saying, 'This is our armament,' a kind of show of force," and said, "The staff were reportedly horrified."

Representative Yoon stated, "On the surface, it is true that the hardline leadership has taken control of the Security Service," and "On the other hand, there is unrest among frontline security officers. Since the deputy head made mistakes, calls for resignation and dismissal have openly begun. It is true that there is some turmoil within the Security Service," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Representative Yoon disclosed the full text of a text message received from a Security Service employee.

The employee said, "Security Service staff have endured under harsh working conditions with loyalty and a sense of professional duty to uphold at least the minimum dignity of Yoon Suk-yeol as president," but added, "However, the order to use weapons to prevent an arrest caused an unbelievable and great disappointment among Security Service employees."

He continued, "Not only Security Service staff but also the police officers executing the reissuance of the arrest warrant are heads of families and proud sons and daughters to someone," and said, "I understand that protecting the lives of the people of the Republic of Korea is the president's duty and obligation. I believe the Security Service is fulfilling its duties and obligations to the protectee. Please distance yourselves from the hardline leadership of the Security Service that is blocking Yoon Suk-yeol's eyes and ears and listen to the cries of the people."