Synopsis
South Korean Police are preparing to seek arrest warrants for two senior officials of the Presidential Security Service, accused of obstructing the investigation into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. This follows previous rejections from the prosecution.Key Takeaways
- Police to reapply for arrest warrants for aides.
- Accusations include obstructing an investigation.
- Previous requests for warrants were denied by prosecution.
- Constitutional Court's ruling on Yoon's impeachment pending.
- Potential political consequences if Yoon is ousted.
Seoul, March 17 (NationPress) South Korean Police announced on Monday that they are preparing to once again seek arrest warrants for two high-ranking officials of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) who are accused of hindering investigators' efforts to apprehend the impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
An official from the National Office of Investigation (NOI) indicated that law enforcement has completed arrangements to detain acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon and Lee Kwang-woo, the head of the PSS' bodyguard division, and plans to submit the warrant applications to the prosecution later on Monday.
Both Kim and Lee are charged with obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant for Yoon in January, engaging in inappropriate conduct, and directing subordinates to delete records of phone conversations between Yoon and military leaders involved in the December 3 martial law declaration, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Previously, the prosecution denied the police's requests for arrest warrants for Kim three times and for Lee twice. However, a warrant review panel from the Seoul High Prosecutors Office supported the police's position on March 6, determining that it was suitable for the prosecution to request warrants for the two.
The police have conducted additional investigations to substantiate the necessity of detaining Kim and Lee, according to the NOI official.
Earlier on Sunday, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) of South Korea declared that they will respect whatever decision the Constitutional Court reaches regarding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, as stated by the party's floor leader, outlining their official position prior to the ruling.
Representative Kweon Seong-dong remarked that the court is presently considering whether to reinstate or remove Yoon from office after his impeachment related to his brief martial law declaration on December 3. The date of the ruling is yet to be announced, although many observers anticipate it will be revealed this week.
"Our party's official position is that we will accept the court's ruling," he informed reporters. "As you all are aware, constitutional trials are single-trial cases ... once a verdict is made, the result is binding for all parties involved."
In response to Kweon’s statements, Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the main Opposition Democratic Party, emphasized that "acknowledging the Constitutional Court's ruling is a fundamental expectation for any politician dedicated to upholding the Constitution in a constitutional state."
"We will see if the PPP follows through on its commitments," he added.
If Yoon is removed, the nation will need to conduct a snap presidential election within 60 days. Conversely, if reinstated, he will continue to serve until May 2027.
