Yoon Gun-young: "At the Security Office Founding Event, Yoon's Birthday Party... Even a 'Yoon Seok-yeol Acrostic Poem' Contest"

Tip-off Revealed During Coup Investigation Special Committee Questioning
Lee Jin-ha, Headquarters Chief, Says "I Do Not Recall the Details"

Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, raised allegations that the Presidential Security Service (PSS) held its founding anniversary event like a birthday party for President Yoon Seok-yeol. Based on a tip-off, Representative Yoon questioned this matter at the 'Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Alleged Coup Charges through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Government' (Coup Investigation Special Committee).

On the 15th, at the National Assembly during the Coup Investigation Special Committee meeting, Yoon addressed Lee Jin-ha, head of the Security and Safety Headquarters of the PSS, saying, "There was a founding anniversary event for the PSS in December 2023, but I received a tip that it was disguised as President Yoon’s birthday party because it was similar to the president’s birthday." He continued, "At the event, all related security agencies were mobilized for activities such as a 'Yoon Seok-yeol acrostic poem' contest and a birthday congratulatory choir ceremony," and claimed, "I have confirmed that there is also a video capturing these scenes."

Yoon Geon-young, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

In response, Director Lee said, "I understand that a founding anniversary event was held," but added, "I do not recall the details," trailing off. Director Lee is currently under investigation for obstruction of official duties along with former PSS Director Park Jong-jun, Deputy Director Kim Seong-hoon, and Security Headquarters Chief Lee Gwang-woo, after blocking the execution of an arrest warrant for President Yoon by the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Division (HOCI) on the 3rd. He was the second PSS executive to respond to police summons.

During the questioning, Representative Yoon pointed out, "There are overzealous loyalists and those trying to curry favor with power within the PSS, causing the organization to deteriorate and harming honest security officers."