Ahead of an imminent attempt by the joint investigation team to execute a warrant to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, police are reportedly seeking to take the deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service into custody. The investigative authorities allege that Kim Seong-hoon obstructed official duties by blocking officials from serving the court-issued warrant to arrest Yoon, according to reports Sunday.
The police special investigation team handling the probe into Yoon's botched attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3 is currently reviewing measures to seek a separate warrant to detain Kim Seong-hoon, deputy chief of the PSS, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Kim is seen as likely to direct a second effort by the presidential bodyguards to thwart investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the police when they make a second attempt to detain Yoon.
Kim assumed the role of acting head of the PSS after former chief Park Jong-jun stepped down on Friday. Park was booked by the police on charges of obstructing official duties over PSS guards blocking investigators' access to Yoon, who was holding out inside the presidential residence, on Jan. 3. Unlike Park, who is a former police official, Kim ascended to the PSS leadership from inside the organization, having first been hired as a security officer in 1996.
Kim has snubbed police summons three times so far, claiming that temporarily leaving his post to go in for questioning would compromise "the seriousness of his duties" to protect Yoon, after his third refusal to show up for questioning on Saturday.
Police have yet to officially confirm their plans to obtain a warrant for Kim.
Kim's detention could lead to an internal rift within the PSS, potentially making it easier for investigators to execute the arrest warrant for Yoon in their anticipated second attempt, according to reports.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
