Third Command Team Meeting of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit Held Today
Inducing Internal Division in the Security Service Through Psychological Warfare
Tripartite Meeting Among HOCI, Police, and Security Service
The Joint Investigation Headquarters (Joint Headquarters), investigating the ‘12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident,’ is expected to execute a second arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol as early as the 15th. The police are deploying over 1,000 detectives and investigators, preparing for a prolonged operation lasting up to 2 to 3 days.
On the morning of the 14th, officials from the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Office (HOCI) and the National Investigation Headquarters (NIH) of the National Police Agency met with personnel from the Presidential Security Service to discuss the execution of the warrant, but it is reported that only differences in their positions were confirmed.
A dog is guarding the door at the entrance of the Presidential Residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, one week before the formal impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 7th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
On the morning of the 14th, the NIH held a third meeting of the command team of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit, including the captains of the Criminal Mobile Units from Seoul, Southern Gyeonggi, and Northern Gyeonggi Police Agencies, to finalize the arrest operation. Earlier, the National Police Agency reportedly sent official letters to the four metropolitan police agencies in the Seoul metropolitan area, instructing them to dispatch personnel to be involved in executing the arrest warrant starting that day.
The police are prioritizing safety in this arrest operation. There have been opposition party claims that Chief of Security Kim Seong-hoon is leading a hardline response involving the use of force, and that President Yoon instructed security officials to "carry at least a knife if not a gun and stop them at all costs." Initially, the deployment of an armed special forces unit was considered to counteract, but the strategy was set to arrest Presidential Security Service staff one by one using overwhelming numbers and transport them separately. The plan under strong consideration is to first arrest Chief Kim and then arrest security staff who try to prevent the execution of Kim’s arrest warrant one by one.
Investigators entering the presidential residence on the day of the warrant execution are prepared with handcuffs and telescopic batons for on-the-spot arrests, as well as flashlights for nighttime operations, auxiliary phone batteries for prolonged operations, and diapers among the list of supplies.
Through official letters requesting cooperation in executing the arrest warrant sent to the Ministry of National Defense and the Presidential Security Service, HOCI and the police emphasize that anyone obstructing the execution of President Yoon’s arrest warrant will face criminal penalties or civil liability for damages, and may suffer disadvantages regarding their public official status or pension benefits. However, they also stress that refusing to follow unlawful orders will not result in charges such as dereliction of duty. This is interpreted as an attempt to induce internal division within the Security Service through psychological warfare amid growing internal opposition to obstructing the warrant execution.
Warnings about becoming ‘human shields’ were also issued to members of the People Power Party. The police stated that even lawmakers could be arrested if they obstruct the execution of President Yoon’s arrest warrant.
Meanwhile, officials from HOCI, the Emergency Martial Law Special Investigation Unit, and the Presidential Security Service met at an undisclosed location from 8 a.m. that day to discuss the warrant execution. This tripartite meeting was reportedly held following a proposal letter from the police.
Despite about an hour of discussions, the gap in positions between the police, HOCI, and the Security Service reportedly remained wide.
The Joint Headquarters stated, "We requested the Security Service’s cooperation for a safe and peaceful execution of the warrant and are awaiting their response."
If there is no significant progress in the Security Service’s stance, the police and HOCI are expected to attempt the warrant execution within this week according to the existing plan.
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