'Cooperate with Yoon's Arrest' Post on Presidential Security Service Intranet...Forced Deletion Controversy

Kim Seong-hoon, Deputy Chief of the Presidential Security Service, is responding to committee members' inquiries about security activities during President Yoon Seok-yeol's use of a military golf course at the National Assembly Steering Committee plenary meeting on the afternoon of November 19 last year. Photo by Yonhap News

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Differences of opinion have emerged within the Presidential Security Service, which is currently clashing with the police to prevent the execution of an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol. An employee posted on the internal network of the Security Service that obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant could be illegal, and when internal unrest arose as a result, Deputy Chief Kim Seong-hoon reportedly ordered the post to be deleted.

According to political circles on the 12th, on the 11th, a post stating "It is illegal to obstruct the execution of an arrest warrant by investigative agencies" was uploaded on the Security Service's internal network. The author of the post argued, "In the current situation, obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant by investigative agencies may constitute obstruction of official duties," and "cooperation with the execution of warrants by investigative agencies is necessary."

The writer reportedly cited a statement made by Cheon Dae-yeop, Director of the Court Administration Office, during a recent inquiry at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 7th: "Judicial proceedings carried out lawfully and according to procedure should be respected, and disputes regarding them should be resolved within the procedural framework, which is the core of the rule of law." He stated, "It is difficult to recognize the legitimacy of the purpose behind obstructing the execution of warrants by investigative agencies," and "the execution of warrants by investigative agencies is not considered a threat to the life or body of the protection target, so it should be complied with."

The post was deleted shortly after being uploaded on the internal network, reportedly under direct orders from Deputy Chief Kim. Kim currently serves as acting head of the Security Service after former Chief Park Jong-jun resigned on the 10th. Unlike Park, who was from the police, Kim is a Security Service insider and is classified as a hardliner. He is expected to lead the Security Service’s defensive efforts against the execution of arrest warrants by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the police.

On the same day, Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on his social media (SNS) Facebook, "It appears that Deputy Chief Kim Seong-hoon, who is the leader of the 'Kim Geon-hee Kim Yong-hyun line' within the Security Service, forcibly deleted the post on the internal network," adding, "In other words, the post was forcibly deleted regardless of the author’s will." He continued, "I hope the head of the Security Service answers why he is ignoring and dismissing the many healthy voices within the Security Service."

The CIO and police are currently discussing specific plans, including personnel and equipment, for executing the arrest warrant. It is widely known that once preparations are complete, they are likely to attempt execution within this week. Since the Security Service still intends to thoroughly protect President Yoon, a clash appears inevitable.

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