Yoon Detainment Standoff Intensifies Amid Resignation of Security Chief

South Korea’s interim leader accepted the resignation of Park Jong-joon, head of the presidential security service, amid growing scrutiny. Park faced police questioning after his forces were accused of obstructing law enforcement efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol during a contentious standoff last week.

Why It Matters

Tensions have remained high in South Korea after the country’s Parliament voted to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo just days after now former President Yoon was impeached over declaring a short-lived martial law.

Last month, authorities in South Korea requested a court warrant to detain impeached Yoon, citing an investigation into whether his brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 constituted an act of rebellion.

What To Know

Acting South Korean leader Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok voiced regret over last week’s confrontations between law enforcement officials and the presidential security service, urging lawmakers to pursue a bipartisan agreement for an independent investigation.

South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, in coordination with police, is preparing a renewed effort to detain Yoon. Authorities are probing whether Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 constitutes an attempted rebellion. A previous attempt to take him into custody at his official residence, where he has remained for weeks, was thwarted by the presidential security service.

The affect of Park’s resignation and Choi’s appeal for an independent investigation into Yoon’s actions remains uncertain, leaving questions about how these developments might influence efforts to detain the former president.

Bill Seeks to Independently Investigate Yoon

On Thursday, South Korea’s Democratic Party, alongside other opposition groups, unveiled a bill seeking an independent investigation into allegations that Yoon committed rebellion.

A previous attempt by opposition lawmakers to establish an independent investigation faltered when members of Yoon’s party objected to a provision that restricted the selection of special prosecutor candidates to opposition parties.

Conservative lawmakers have withheld support for the newly proposed bill, which suggests that South Korea’s Supreme Court chief justice recommend two candidates for the role of special prosecutor. Under the proposal, Yoon would select one candidate, but if he declines to make a choice, the older of the two nominees would automatically assume the position.

Yoon remains confined to his official residence in Seoul, where the presidential security service has reinforced the area with barbed wire and rows of vehicles barricading surrounding roads.

Why Is Yoon Facing Impeachment?

On Dec. 3, Yoon briefly declared martial law, deploying troops to encircle the National Assembly. The measure was rescinded within hours after lawmakers broke through the military blockade and voted to overturn it.

Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended following his impeachment by the opposition-controlled National Assembly on Dec. 14, with lawmakers accusing him of rebellion. The Constitutional Court is now deliberating whether to uphold the impeachment and remove him from office permanently or dismiss the charges and restore his authority.

What People Are Saying

South Korean leader Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok said “The government has been deliberating to find a wise solution, but unfortunately, within our current legal framework, it’s difficult to find a clear resolution to end the conflict between the two agencies.”

“We urge the ruling and opposition parties to work together to agree on a bill to launch a special prosecutor investigation that is free from constitutional issues. This will naturally resolve the ongoing intense standoff.”

Democratic Party spokesperson Noh Jong-myun, accused Choi of enabling Yoon’s defiance of a court-issued warrant while framing it as an effort to maintain neutrality: “It amounts to a public declaration of support for the leader of a rebellion.”

Chief of the presidential security service Park Jong-joon recently criticized efforts to detain Yoon saying “Many citizens are surely deeply concerned about the possible conflict and confrontation between government agencies … I came here today with the belief that under no circumstances should there be any physical clashes or bloodshed, and am hoping to prevent such incidents from occurring.”

What’s Next

Yoon’s legal team has challenged the validity of a new detention warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court, arguing that the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials does not have the legal authority to investigate rebellion charges or direct police to detain suspects.

Yoon’s attorneys have called on the anti-corruption agency to either formally indict him or pursue an arrest warrant, which would require a court hearing. However, they insist that Yoon will only recognize an arrest warrant issued by the Seoul Central District Court, the primary authority for handling high-profile cases.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press