Former Security Service Official: "Defend Against Investigative Authorities' Entry... Understood as Yoon's Order"

There was courtroom testimony stating that former President Yoon Sukyeol instructed the Presidential Security Service to block entry to his official residence in order to prevent attempts by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the police to detain him following the December 3 Martial Law.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol. Photo by Yonhap News

On October 17, the 35th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Baek Daehyun, held a continued trial on charges including obstruction of special official duties against former President Yoon. Lee Jinha, former Director of Security and Safety at the Presidential Security Service, testified about the events following the court's issuance of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon at the request of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials last December. He stated that Kim Sunghoon, former Deputy Director of the Security Service, told him, "We must defend the residence at all costs so that the investigative authorities cannot enter." When the special prosecutor's team asked whether this was an order or directive from former President Yoon, Lee replied, "That is how I understood it."

When the special prosecutor's team asked, "Did former Deputy Director Kim say, 'We need to take down those guys. The police have no investigative authority'?" Lee responded, "I believe he said something to that effect."

Lee also confirmed, in response to the special prosecutor's question, that Lee Kwangwoo, former Director of Security at the Security Service, said during a meeting, "The police are committing illegal acts, so they must be arrested. I will carry a gun. We need to install barbed wire."

Additionally, Lee testified that at the time, former Deputy Director Kim instructed him to delete secure phone call records of military commanders, including former Capital Defense Command Commander Lee Jinwoo, former Defense Security Command Director Yeo Inhyeong, and former Special Warfare Command Commander Kwak Jonggeun.