Politics Security guards of South Korea's president miss summons
One day after the failed arrest of suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, the heads of his security service failed to show up for a police summons.
04.01.2025, 05:32
SDA
According to the Yonhap news agency, the president's security service explained that neither Park Chong Jun nor his deputy Kim Seong Hoon were able to leave their posts due to the tense situation in which the president needs protection. The security service is in contact with the police to find another date for the interrogation, it added.
Dozens of investigators had tried to detain Yoon for more than five and a half hours on Friday to question him in the case of the brief imposition of martial law in early December. However, a "wall" of about 200 members of the army and security services stood in the way of the authorities on the grounds of the president's residence, Yonhap further reported.
Yoon missed summonses
In mid-December, parliament removed Yoon from power until further notice. The Constitutional Court is currently reviewing this decision. For the time being, the former finance minister and deputy prime minister Choi Sang Mok is in charge of state affairs. The accusations against Yoon are abuse of power and sedition. Before the attempted arrest, he had ignored three summonses from the Corruption Investigation Bureau. The latter finally successfully applied to a court for his arrest.
The court order is still valid up to and including Monday. The opposition demanded that it be enforced as quickly as possible. It also demanded that Park be arrested for abuse of power and obstruction of official duties. The security service in turn threatened the authorities with legal action for trespassing.
Further arrest attempt possible
As Yonhap reported, investigators may attempt to arrest Yoon again this weekend. If they succeed, they would have 48 hours to question Yoon and decide whether to release him or apply for a warrant for his arrest. In Seoul, numerous supporters of Yoon have been demonstrating in front of the presidential residence for days. Opponents of the suspended president also protested in their thousands.
