(123rf)
(123rf)

The 2023 birthday celebration of now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol reportedly included a talent show, group song and dance by soldiers of the Capital Defense Command.

According to local broadcaster SBS, scores of soldiers of the 55th Security Brigade were ordered by Kim Yong-hyun -- former defense minister and then-leader of the Presidential Security Service -- to put on a talent show and performance for the president. The event was held as a 60th anniversary celebration for the PSS but was held on Yoon's birthday of Dec. 18, not the agency's founding day of Dec. 17.

The songs by soldiers were revised versions of popular military songs with the lyrics changed to praise Yoon, with the soldiers saluting the president and first lady Kim Keon Hee. The soldiers reportedly were relieved from their regular duties while they practiced two months for the event.

It was reported that other military and police entrusted with presidential security duties were also ordered to put on talent shows and sing hymns praising Yoon.

The PSS refused to comment on the report, saying the details related to the agency and its activities are classified.

It was reported earlier that the PSS used its officials in the special birthday event for Yoon, having them sing a revised version of "Seasons of Love" from the popular musical "Rent," dedicated to Yoon.

Kim Seong-hoon, the deputy chief of the PSS who planned the birthday event, denied mobilizing the presidential bodyguards for the event when he appeared at the police station for questioning last Friday.

However, in response to a further question about whether the PSS officials singing a birthday song for Yoon had been appropriate, he said, "Don't your friends throw you a birthday party and sing a birthday song?" and, "Apart from work-related matters, this is the world in which people live.”

The Capital Defense Command is entrusted with providing primary military defense for the nation's capital, and is also mandated to allocate part of its troops for protection of the president, as do other branches of the military. The 55th Security Brigade receives orders from the PSS chief, and its primary duties are to guard the perimeters of the official presidential residence.

It was alleged that the troops were also mobilized to block investigators from carrying out the court-issued warrant to arrest Yoon, currently detained for investigation on leading an insurrection and abuse of power charges, as well as on trial for impeachment.