Seoul Court Seeks Heavy Sentences for Presidential Security Officials

The Special Prosecutor's Office for Insurrection, led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok, has requested severe sentences for top officials of the Presidential Security Service accused of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The prosecution claims these officials mobilized the security service to hinder the court's enforcement of the warrant to evade criminal responsibility for Yoon.

During a sentencing hearing on June 1 at the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Hyun-kyung, the prosecution requested a seven-year prison sentence for both Park Jong-jun, the former chief, and Kim Sung-hoon, the former deputy chief. They also sought five years for Lee Kwang-woo, the former head of the security division, and three years for Kim Shin, the former head of family security.

The defendants were indicted for mobilizing security personnel to obstruct the execution of an arrest warrant for Yoon, which was sought by the Corruption Investigation Office in January of the previous year. Kim Sung-hoon is also accused of ordering the deletion of secure phone call records following the declaration of a state of emergency on December 3.

In its closing arguments, the prosecution characterized the incident as an organized crime that undermined the nation's criminal justice system rather than a mere on-site clash. They emphasized, "The Presidential Security Service is not merely a private bodyguard group for the president. The defendants disregarded the service's fundamental duties and fully mobilized its resources to help Yoon evade criminal accountability."

The prosecution further stated, "They physically obstructed a legally issued arrest warrant, shaking the foundations of the rule of law. We must not set a precedent that allows resistance to investigations or trials through physical force when it is unfavorable to oneself."

The prosecution argued that the security service had prepared in advance by establishing barriers and increasing personnel before the warrant's execution. Evidence presented during the trial included videos and testimonies showing confrontations between Corruption Investigation Office investigators and security personnel, as well as scenes of barricades and barbed wire installations, and security staff forming a so-called 'human scrum.'

The prosecution contended that Park Jong-jun played a key role as the highest authority in the security service in obstructing the warrant's execution. They asserted that Kim Sung-hoon effectively commanded the response on-site and attempted to destroy evidence related to secure phones. Lee Kwang-woo and Kim Shin were also found to have participated in the obstruction efforts through barricade installations and personnel deployments.

In contrast, Park Jong-jun's defense argued that while they did not dispute the objective facts, there was no intent to obstruct public duty. His lawyer stated, "In a situation where the legality of the warrant was still in question, we believed we had the authority to deny entry into the security zone and emphasized that there should be no violations of law or physical confrontations."

Kim Sung-hoon's defense also denied some charges, asserting that he only ordered the blocking of external access rather than the deletion of call records. They further claimed that regarding armed patrols, he did not lead a show of force but rather instructed officers to secure their weapons and end the patrol early.

Lee Kwang-woo's defense maintained that he acted solely on orders from superiors and did not conspire in any wrongdoing, while Kim Shin's defense also denied any collusion.

Meanwhile, former President Yoon was sentenced to seven years in prison in a related appeal case involving charges of obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant. This case is currently under review by the Supreme Court.