Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Presidential Security Service under pressure for blocking Yoon's detention
Park Chong-jun, head of the Presidential Security Service (PSS), comments on an attempt by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning on insurrection charges, during a recorded address in Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of PSS
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Opposition seeks to curb security agency's power
The Presidential Security Service (PSS) is facing mounting criticism after blocking investigators from executing a warrant to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning in connection with insurrection charges related to his short-lived declaration of martial law.
While the PSS claims its top priority is to ensure the absolute safety of the president and must leave no loopholes, its noncompliance with law enforcement authorities and a court's decision to question Yoon is drawing calls for reforms to limit the agency's power.
On Friday, hundreds of PSS agents prevented investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) from executing the detention warrant against Yoon, blocking their path to the presidential residence in central Seoul. Confronted by a barricade of guards, the CIO investigators withdrew approximately five and a half hours later.
At the time, the PSS argued that the residence is a sensitive security area, where searches and seizures could be restricted. Although a local court specified in the warrant that relevant clauses of the Criminal Procedure Act would not apply, the PSS disregarded this order.
As the PSS’s actions faced harsh criticism, with critics referring to the service as "Yoon's loyal, private guards," Park Chong-jun, the head of presidential security, issued a rare statement on Sunday, describing such criticism as insulting.
"I believe it would be dereliction of duty for the PSS to comply with the execution of the detention warrant, which is being carried out amid controversy over its legitimacy," Park said in his address. "If my decision has any flaws, I will accept legal responsibility."
Park also refused to comply with the police's summons for questioning over the PSS' obstruction of official duties — specifically, the blocking of the detention warrant execution — on Saturday and Tuesday.
“It is difficult for Park Chong-jun to appear for questioning today as he has not yet appointed his legal representative. He will coordinate the schedule for questioning after appointing a lawyer soon,” the PSS said in a press notice on Tuesday.
The police summoned Park for the third time, which is generally considered a final warning, requesting him to appear for questioning on Friday.
The PSS chief, who has also been booked for his involvement in Yoon's insurrection, refused to attend a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, telling lawmakers that he cannot leave his position even for a moment, as it is a critical time for the institution in providing security services for the president.
Oh Dong-woon, chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, attends a parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Meanwhile, the opposition bloc is pushing to abolish the security service, citing concerns that it has transformed into the president’s private army.
On Tuesday, Rep. Hwang Myeong-seon of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) proposed a bill titled “Presidential Security Service Abolition Act,” which includes the abolition of the PSS and the creation of a presidential security unit under the National Police Agency.
A day earlier, Rep. Min Hyung-bae of the DPK proposed a similar bill calling for an amendment to the current Presidential Security Act. Referring to the PSS as a “legacy of [former president and general] Park Chung-hee’s military dictatorship,” the lawmaker argued that the PSS should be abolished to eradicate “abuse of power and cronyism.”
The structure of the PSS dates back to 1963, when then-President Park Chung-hee established the service as a loyal bodyguard force to defend his military regime. It continues to operate under the direct control of the president.
The minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) expressed concerns that the PSS could abuse its power and end up becoming the president’s private army.
“The PSS has gone out of control. To improve the situation, we need to abolish the PSS, which is a symbol of imperial presidential culture and authoritarianism,” Rep. Shin Jang-sik of the RKP said.
Rival parties continued to clash over the execution of the warrant by the CIO, which has faced criticism for incompetence after flip-flopping on who should carry out the detention warrant.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) said the martial law case should be transferred to the police as the CIO has no authority to investigate Yoon.
On the other hand, the DPK said the CIO should fully prepare itself and detain Yoon if a Seoul court reissues the warrant to detain the embattled president. The anti-corruption agency refiled the warrant with the Seoul Western District Court on Monday, seeking an extension.
Oh Dong-woon, the chief of the CIO, apologized for the failed attempt to detain Yoon and vowed to do his best to prepare to execute the second warrant.