Official statement from the South Korean government or law enforcement agencies

South Korea's Park Chong-jun Resigns as Presidential Security Chief Amid Planned Second Arrest Attempt for Yoon

Jan 10, 2025, 09:06 AM

South Korea's acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, has accepted the resignation of Park Chong-jun, the chief of the presidential security service. Park faced police questioning over allegations that his forces obstructed law enforcement efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. The resignation comes amid an investigation into Park's actions, particularly his guards' role in preventing the arrest of Yoon, who is under scrutiny for his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3. Park expressed concerns about potential violence if authorities attempted to arrest Yoon again, warning of bloodshed and emphasizing the need to avoid any physical clashes. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and police are preparing for a second attempt to detain Yoon, following the failure of their initial effort due to resistance from the presidential security service.