Editor-DN
Seoul:
South Korea’s presidential security chief resigned on Friday as he faced questions about why his bodyguards prevented impeached President Yoon Seok-yul from being detained, and investigators prepared a new arrest attempt. of
Yoon resisted arrest last week in a standoff between his guards and investigators after his brief seizure of power on Dec. 3 plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.
A PSS official told AFP that Yun’s Presidential Security Service (PSS) chief, Park Chong-joon — a former police officer — said Friday morning “when he was under police questioning.” was involved” tendered his resignation.
An official from the interim leader’s office told reporters that he was later accepted by Acting President Choi Sang-mok.
It comes as a joint investigation team of the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) and police are preparing to launch a new attempt to arrest Yoon over his declaration of martial law.
Park told reporters before being questioned at the Korean National Police Agency early Friday that there should be no violence if investigators try to make another arrest of Yoon.
The former security chief said that I believe that under no circumstances should there be physical confrontation or bloodshed.
Choi later said in a statement to AFP that both the ruling and opposition parties “must agree on the establishment of a special prosecutor investigation law” to find a way out of the crisis.
In sub-zero temperatures, rival protest camps are calling for Yun’s impeachment on the one hand and his immediate detention on the other.
Yoon would be the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested if investigators succeed in detaining him.
His legal team has said he will not comply with the current warrant.
1,000 investigators
The CIO said he would make “full preparations” for a second arrest attempt and anyone obstructing them could be detained himself.
Police held a meeting of top commanders on Friday to plan a renewed effort, Yonhap news agency reported.
The National Office of Investigation, a police unit, sent a note to high-ranking police officials in Seoul asking them to prepare to mobilize 1,000 investigators for the fresh effort, Yonhap reported.
Park, the presidential security chief, twice ignored police requests to appear for questioning on charges of obstructing public duty as her team blocked investigators.
Police then warned that if he did not appear, they would consider an arrest warrant.
“If I, as a police officer, refuse a police summons, who among the citizens will agree to be investigated?” Park told reporters.
A tense standoff
Meanwhile, Yoon’s guards have stepped up security at her Seoul residential compound with barbed wire installations and bus barricades.
Yun’s legal team said on Friday that guards “remain on high alert 24/7” for another arrest attempt “despite enormous pressure and stress”.
Separate from the coup investigation, Yun also faces ongoing impeachment proceedings — lawmakers have already suspended him, but the Constitutional Court will decide whether to uphold or reinstate him.
The court has set a date of January 14 for the start of Yoon’s impeachment trial, which will continue in his absence.
Analysts have warned that any violence during the arrest could damage Yun’s hopes of survival.
“The physical confrontation … will likely weaken his position in the upcoming impeachment trial,” political analyst Park Sang-byung told AFP.
Polls show approval ratings for Yun’s ruling party are rising as the crisis deepens.
A new Gallup poll published Friday showed the People’s Power Party’s approval rating rose to 34 percent from 24 percent three weeks ago.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
