SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Police have again called for two senior officials from the Presidential Security Service (PSS) to appear for questioning over their alleged role in obstructing the detention of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Park Chong-jun, head of the PSS, and Deputy Kim Seong-hoon are under suspicion for obstructing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in its attempt to arrest Yoon, Jan. 3. The CIO was attempting to execute a warrant related to his controversial martial law declaration a month ago.
The confrontation unfolded at the presidential residence in Seoul, where PSS officials, joined by military personnel, blocked the CIO’s efforts to detain Yoon, resulting in a tense six-hour standoff. Ultimately, the CIO had to halt its attempt, and this raised serious concerns over the involvement of the presidential security team in preventing law enforcement from carrying out its duties.
The investigation team initially requested Park and Kim appear for questioning, Jan. 4, but both declined, citing their ongoing responsibility to provide security for the suspended president. They argued that leaving their posts - even temporarily - was untenable given the sensitive nature of their duties.
In response, the CIO made follow-up requests for questioning: Park has been asked to appear on Tuesday, while Kim is to report on Wednesday.
The CIO is expected to make another attempt to detain Yoon as early as Sunday, with the detention warrant remaining valid until Monday. Yoon faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power stemming from his brief martial law declaration.
The opposition, led by the Democratic Party and joined by five other parties, has demanded immediate disciplinary action against the PSS officials, calling for their removal from office.
In a joint press conference at the National Assembly, the opposition leaders accused the PSS of complicity in the alleged insurrection, asserting that Park and his team acted as accomplices to Yoon’s "failed coup."
They also criticized acting President Choi Sang-mok for his role in the standoff, calling on him to ensure the PSS cooperates with the investigation.
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