ED No to violent clashes

Oh Dong-woon, chief prosecutor of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, grimaces during a meeting of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Commitee, Jan. 7.

The Presidential Security Service (PSS) and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) are on a collision course once again. The CIO seeks to arrest and detain President Yoon Suk Yeol, following its initial unsuccessful attempt. This potential standoff could escalate dangerously, as both sides remain steadfast. The PSS remains firm in protecting Yoon from arrest, while the CIO, supported by approximately 1,000 police officers, is determined to carry out his detention. Yoon has been stripped of his power since December when the National Assembly approved the motion to impeach him.

All actions must fully adhere to the rule of law, leaving no room for violence. The PSS and CIO should work together if needed. The CIO has faced criticism for overlooking principles and failing to effectively execute its public enforcement duties. Meanwhile, Yoon should fully cooperate with the investigation.

Without concessions from either side, violent clashes could become inevitable. It is crucial to prevent this worst-case scenario from unfolding.

Tensions are escalating following former PSS head Park Jong-joon’s decision to turn himself in, complying with the police’s third request for him to answer questions. In his statement, he warned of a potentially deadly confrontation if issues are not resolved properly in advance.

“The CIO must follow due process and conduct a proper investigation. The current approach to executing the warrant for President Yoon's detention is inappropriate,” Park told reporters upon arriving at the National Police Agency headquarters in Seoul’s Seodaemun District. “Under no circumstances should there be a physical clash or a bloody conflict.”

Earlier, Park had offered his resignation, which was immediately accepted by acting President Choi Sang-mok. Kim Sung-hoon, the deputy head of the PSS, has since taken over as acting head.

Park’s departure signals a shift in the PSS’ internal dynamics, with hardliners now gaining more influence. Park, a moderate who began his career at the National Police Agency after graduating from the Korean National Police University, had advocated for negotiations with the CIO to arrange a time and place for investigating Yoon, suggesting that the president should cooperate. However, his recommendation was met with resistance from hardliners within the PSS, who argued that the agency should prioritize Yoon's safety and reject any concessions to the CIO. Kim, a career PSS officer, is known to be one of these hardliners.

The CIO has faced intense pressure from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) since its first attempt to arrest Yoon failed. DPK members have urged CIO investigators to do whatever it takes to detain the president.

Under the CIO's supervision, the National Office of Investigation (NOI) — under the National Police Agency — held a meeting on Friday with the heads of police investigation teams from Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and other jurisdictions around the capital area to devise a strategy for arresting Yoon. The NOI plans to mobilize approximately 1,000 police officers nationwide, including detectives from organized crime units and drug enforcement agents. The strategy aims to employ a "meat grinder" approach, using overwhelming force to counter the approximately 700 well-trained PSS agents tasked with protecting the president.

It remains uncertain whether the police’s strategy will work as intended.

Questions have been raised about the CIO’s motives. What is their true priority — arresting or investigating the sitting president? Why has the CIO invested so much time and effort into pursuing Yoon’s arrest? Is this driven by a desire to publicly humiliate him?

Suspicion surrounding the CIO’s motives stems primarily from its use of questionable methods to apprehend the president. The decision to mobilize hundreds of homicide detectives — who typically handle organized crime — and drug enforcement agents to arrest a sitting president raises concerns. While has he been suspended from his duties, he remains the sitting president.

CIO Chief Prosecutor Oh Dong-woon, a former judge, is well-versed in what is legal and what is not. The CIO has been accused of seeking a detention warrant for President Yoon from the Seoul Western District Court after allegedly failing to obtain one from the Seoul Central District Court, which is problematic. Both Oh and the CIO investigator who sought the warrant could face legal consequences. Additionally, the renewed warrant is valid for three weeks, which is unusually long. The CIO has taken these questionable actions solely to arrest the sitting president.

The CIO must adhere to the rule of law, focusing on conducting a lawful investigation without violating legal principles. Yoon, for his part, should fully cooperate with the investigation.