South Korea investigators ask acting president to clear way for Yoon’s arrest
SEOUL – The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials said on Saturday it had again asked acting President Choi Sang-mok to order the presidential security service to cooperate with the arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The security service, along with military troops, on Friday prevented prosecutors from arresting Yoon Suk Yeol in a six-hour standoff inside Yoon’s compound. The investigators secured the warrant to arrest Yoon over his brief declaration of martial law last month.
The police asked the chief of the presidential security service, Park Chong-jun, to appear for questioning on Tuesday, Yonhap News reported.
Park Chong-jun, who reports directly to Yoon, was instrumental in rebuffing the investigators’ attempt on Friday to serve an arrest warrant on Yoon.
Yoon’s Dec. 3 martial declaration stunned South Korea and led to the first arrest warrant to be issued for a sitting president.
His legal fate is being fought over by an array of law enforcement agencies against Yoon’s forces – with Presidential security chief Park in a pivotal position.
Appointed by Yoon in September, Park had already played a role in preventing investigators from executing search warrants for the president’s offices and residences, citing national security.
“The Presidential Security Service exists solely for the absolute safety of the security target,” Park said in a message on the service’s website, adding that its mission to protect the president “at every moment” must leave no loopholes.
