'Yoon Arrest Warrant Re-execution Imminent'... Public Official Crime Investigation Office Warns Security Service of 'Punishment for Obstruction'

The Public Official Crime Investigation Office has sent an official document to the Presidential Security Service and the Ministry of National Defense requesting cooperation regarding the execution of an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The Public Official Crime Investigation Office announced on the 13th through a press release that "a document was sent last night." As the second execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon and the search warrant for the presidential residence is likely to occur this week, it seems a warning message was sent to the Security Service, which obstructed the first execution.

The Public Official Crime Investigation Office explained that the document sent to six members of the Security Service leadership, including the Chief of Security and Safety Headquarters, the Chief of Security Headquarters, and the Director of Planning and Management, included "criminal penalties such as obstruction of special official duties, obstruction of special official duties resulting in injury, and abuse of authority if Security Service members obstruct the lawful execution of the warrant, as well as civil liabilities for illegal acts, loss of civil servant qualifications, restrictions on reappointment, and limitations on receiving civil servant pensions under the National Civil Service Act and the Civil Servant Pension Act."

The document also requested "thorough management and cooperation to prevent illegal acts such as deploying members or providing equipment and facilities for tasks other than the department's inherent duties."

Regarding Security Service employees, it offered a conciliatory measure, stating, "Even if they do not follow illegal orders to block the execution of the warrant, there will be no harm from non-compliance, such as the establishment of the crime of dereliction of duty." Amidst detected conflicts of opinion between the Security Service leadership and employees, it appears to be a psychological strategy to induce internal division.

The Public Official Crime Investigation Office also sent a document to the Ministry of National Defense stating that "if military personnel dispatched to the Security Service, such as the 33rd Military Police Battalion and the 55th Security Group, are mobilized to the warrant execution site or use equipment such as vehicles from their affiliated units to obstruct the execution of the warrant, the personnel and leadership could face criminal charges such as obstruction of special official duties, obstruction of special official duties resulting in injury, and abuse of authority." The document also included the possibility of holding the Security Service civilly liable, such as claiming state compensation (damages) if human or material damage occurs during the execution of the warrant.

The Public Official Crime Investigation Office attempted the first execution of the warrant on the 3rd but failed, reapplying on the 6th, the expiration date of the existing warrant, and receiving reissuance on the 7th. The validity period of the reissued warrant is unknown, but it is said to be until before the Lunar New Year holiday. As a prolonged standoff around the residence is expected, there is speculation that execution will begin this week.

Dongwoon Oh, head of the Public Official Crime Investigation Office, and the investigation team focused on refining the warrant execution plan with the National Investigation Headquarters of the police throughout the weekend. There is a forecast that as soon as an arrest warrant is issued for Seonghun Kim, acting director of the Security Service following the resignation of former Presidential Security Service Director Jongjun Park, the execution of the warrant will commence.

Reporter Seowoo Jang suwu@hankyung.com