South Korean presidential security chief resigns after obstructing Yoon’s arrest – Washington Examiner
**Summary:**
Park Jong-joon, the chief of South Korea’s presidential security service, has resigned following a political crisis related to the arrest of the impeached president, Yoon. His resignation came amid federal efforts to detain Yoon, leading to Park’s decision to file his resignation to Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok before cooperating with police for questioning. This move follows Park’s prior refusal to comply with several requests from law enforcement.
South Korean presidential security chief resigns after obstructing Yoon arrest
The chief of the presidential security service in South Korea, Park Jong-joon, resigned from his position amid a political stalemate as federal authorities seek to arrest the country’s impeached president.
Park filed his resignation to Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok on Friday before turning himself over for questioning. He previously ignored multiple demands to speak with police.
Park oversaw the presidential security personnel that rejected an arrest warrant for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and prevented police from entering the leader’s Seoul residence last week.
Presidential security officers and law enforcement were locked in an hourslong standoff as multiple demonstrations both supporting and condemning Yoon raged in the areas surrounding his home. The federal police eventually retreated without arresting the impeached president.
It is not clear why Park turned himself over to federal authorities, but he reportedly urged the public to practice sobriety and non-belligerence in the proceedings against Yoon.
The presidential security chief told journalists outside police headquarters in Seoul that “there should not be any physical clash or bloodshed under any circumstances,” according to Reuters.
Choi has similarly spoken about the importance of handling the delicate situation in a prudent manner that avoids sparking wider unrest.
“The government has been deliberating to find a wise solution, but unfortunately, within our current legal framework, it’s difficult to find a clear resolution to end the conflict between the two agencies,” the deputy prime minister said, according to the Associated Press.
“We urge the ruling and opposition parties to work together to agree on a bill to launch a special prosecutor investigation that is free from constitutional issues. This will naturally resolve the ongoing intense standoff,” he continued.
Yoon is wanted for questioning after briefly declaring martial law in early December. The president claimed the action was necessary to route out subversive and anti-state actors within the national government.
That decree was swiftly overturned by parliament, and opposition members are now seeking to prosecute Yoon for abuse of power and attempting a coup.
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