The chief of South Korea’s presidential security service, Park Jong-joon, appeared before police for questioning on Friday on charges of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Park arrived at the National Office of Investigation (NOI) at around 10:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), responding to the third summons after previously refusing to appear on January 4 and 7.
Speaking to reporters before entering the NOI, Park emphasized the need to avoid physical conflict and bloodshed amid rising concerns over confrontations between government agencies. He argued that investigations should consider Yoon’s current status as president, suggesting that the execution of the arrest warrant was improper.
Park faces charges of obstructing the execution of special public affairs after the presidential security service blocked investigators’ attempts to arrest President Yoon at the presidential residence on January 3.
A Seoul court extended the validity of the arrest warrant by issuing a second warrant against the impeached president on Tuesday. The new warrant reportedly has a longer validity term than the first, which was valid for a week.
The National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President Yoon on December 14 last year, which was subsequently delivered to the Constitutional Court. The court will deliberate on the motion for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential powers are suspended.
President Yoon has been named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on charges of insurrection. He declared martial law on the night of December 3, a move that was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
