South Korea: Former PSS Chief Interrogated for Third Time Regarding Yoon's Detainment Obstruction
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Seoul, Jan 13 (NationPress) The previous chief of South Korea's Presidential Security Service (PSS) was subjected to police questioning for the third time on Monday over accusations that he obstructed investigators' attempts to apprehend impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol regarding his failed martial law declaration.Park Chong-jun, who resigned from his position as PSS chief last Friday, is facing charges for obstructing official duties as the presidential security personnel have hindered the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) from carrying out a warrant for Yoon's detention.
Park stated to the media that he intends to cooperate with the investigation 'with sincerity.'
In another development, a senior PSS official did not attend police questioning on Monday, ignoring a summons for the third time.
The special investigative team from the National Office of Investigation had requested Lee Kwang-woo, known as a close ally of Yoon, to appear before the police by 10 a.m., but Lee did not comply.
According to Yonhap news agency, police are preparing to file an arrest warrant for Lee, citing concerns over his potential flight risk.
On January 12, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol skipped the initial formal hearing in his impeachment trial that week due to safety concerns.
Yun Gap-geun, Yoon's defense attorney, announced this as the Constitutional Court commenced its first oral arguments in Yoon's impeachment trial on Tuesday, while investigators aimed to detain the impeached president for questioning in a different case related to his brief martial law imposition.
'As attempts to unlawfully execute an illegal and invalid arrest warrant were underway, there were concerns of personal safety and mishap,' Yun stated. 'In order for the President to appear for the trial, the issue of personal safety and security must be resolved.'
Yun indicated that the impeached President would participate in his trial if these safety issues were addressed.
The Constitutional Court previously announced that it would initiate oral arguments for the trial on Tuesday, with a total of five hearing sessions planned until February 4.
Meanwhile, South Korea has entered a phase of political instability following Yoon's brief martial law declaration on December 3, 2024, and his subsequent impeachment on December 14, 2024.
