Breaking: South Korean Presidential Security Chief Resigns After Obstructing Ex-President Yoon’s Arrest
SEOUL — The chief of South Korea‘s presidential security, Park Chong Jun, resigned on Friday, following intense criticism for preventing the arrest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon was ousted by Parliament last week.
Park’s resignation comes amid an ongoing investigation into Yoon’s role in a military coup d’état attempt. Authorities have struggled to take Yoon into custody, with security personnel blocking investigators on multiple occasions.
In a related development, Park tendered his resignation during an interrogation by authorities on the same day. A source from the presidential security service confirmed that the resignation was accepted by acting President Choi Sang Mok.
This turn of events occurs as investigators and police prepare for another attempt to arrest Yoon, following a fresh arrest warrant issued by a Seoul court this week. Yoon has previously refused to be questioned or surrender, leading to a standoff between his security details and investigators.
Park, who served as the head of the Presidential Security Service (PSS), stepped down reportedly while undergoing police questioning early Friday morning. A PSS official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the resignation. Another official from the acting presidential office also verified that Park’s resignation had been accepted.
The impasse markings Yoon’s unjustified military action in early December, which plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades. As the investigation intensifies, the struggle to apprehend Yoon continues, with internal tensions threatening to derail President Choi’s interim administration.
The country awaits further developments in this rapidly evolving political saga, as the search for justice in the wake of Yoon’s actions moves to its next phase.