South Korea presidential security chief questioned amid tensions
South Korean police interrogated the head of the presidential security service on Friday amidst escalating tensions between agencies over the detainment of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, reports AP.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and the police plan a renewed effort to detain Yoon, investigating whether his brief declaration of martial law on December 3 constituted an attempted rebellion. The security service had previously obstructed an attempt to detain Yoon at his official residence, where he has been confined for weeks.
Presidential security chief Park Jong-joon, defending his role as the president’s protector, warned of potential "bloodshed" and faced criticism that the security agency is acting as Yoon's private army. After ignoring two summonses, Park appeared for questioning over allegations of justice obstruction, following last week’s clash where security forces repelled investigators attempting to detain Yoon.
Authorities are considering arresting Park and other security leaders to facilitate Yoon’s detainment. Yoon remains at his fortified residence in Seoul, with heightened security measures, including barbed wire and blocked roads.
On December 3, Yoon briefly declared martial law, deploying troops around the National Assembly. This measure was overturned the same day when lawmakers breached the blockade and voted to lift martial law. Subsequently, Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after his impeachment on December 14, with the Constitutional Court deliberating on whether to remove him from office or reinstate him.
Park criticized the investigation, urging an approach that respects Yoon’s status as president and the dignity of the nation. He stated that he sought mediation from acting leader Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok and Yoon’s legal team but received no satisfactory response.
Yoon’s lawyers have accused the police of undermining the presidential security service, arguing that national security is being disregarded. While the Presidential Security Act mandates protecting the president, legal experts argue that the security service’s actions might be unlawful if they obstruct court-ordered detainments.
National Court Administration head Cheon Dae-yeop remarked that unwarranted resistance to such orders could constitute a crime. Although sitting presidents enjoy broad immunity from prosecution, charges of rebellion or treason are exceptions.
Yoon’s legal team questioned the legitimacy of the detention warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court, asserting that the anti-corruption office lacks authority to investigate rebellion or enforce detainment at a location potentially linked to military secrets without the resident's consent.
The lawyers have called for the anti-corruption agency to either indict Yoon or seek a formal arrest warrant, which requires a court hearing. However, they insist Yoon would only comply with an arrest warrant from the Seoul Central District Court, accusing the agency of judge-shopping by choosing a more favourable jurisdiction.