"Did you prepare a submachine gun?" Security chief snaps at question... Police investigation ends after 2 hours 30 minutes (Comprehensive)

Prosecution Rejects Arrest Warrant Request
Both Officials Return to Duty
Police to Reapply After Supplementary Investigation

Kim Seong-hoon, deputy director of the Presidential Security Service, who is accused of leading the prevention of President Yoon Seok-yeol's arrest, finished police questioning after 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Kim Sang-hoon, Deputy Director of the Presidential Security Service, is testifying as a witness at the 1st hearing of the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Investigation of the Truth behind the December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Deputy Director Kim left the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters around 9:50 a.m. on the 24th and headed to the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office. The prosecution is expected to investigate the situation before and after the declaration of martial law, as well as whether there was an order to delete communication records from President Yoon's burner phone.

When Deputy Director Kim appeared at the National Investigation Headquarters' Special Investigation Unit at around 7:23 a.m. on the 24th, he said regarding the deployment of submachine guns at the presidential residence, "Security officers prepare because they do not know what situation may arise," and angrily added, "I did not give the order. Understand the situation before asking questions."

Regarding whether he ordered the deletion of burner phone data, Deputy Director Kim replied, "The burner phone system automatically deletes data every two days," and said, "There is no reason for me to give such an order."

When asked if it was appropriate for him to act as the acting head of the Security Service while being a suspect, he said, "Give me an alternative."

Director Lee Kwang-woo of the Security Headquarters did not respond to questions such as "Do you admit leading the prevention of the arrest?" or "Did you prepare submachine guns to prepare for protesters?"

The Special Investigation Unit recently secured statements from Security Service officials that Director Lee ordered, "Take out two MP7 submachine guns and 80 rounds of ammunition from the presidential residence armory and place them at the family desk," and "If the second gate of the residence is breached, run out carrying the machine gun."

Earlier, Deputy Director Kim and Director Lee were each arrested by the police on the 17th and 18th for allegedly obstructing the first execution of an arrest warrant against President Yoon. The police applied for an arrest warrant for Deputy Director Kim on the 18th, but the prosecution rejected it. Both were released and returned to security duties. The police plan to reapply for an arrest warrant after supplementary investigations.