Police File Additional Charges Against President Yoon... Secure Text Messages Preventing Arrest

President Yoon Suk-yeol has been additionally charged by police for allegedly obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant by mobilizing the Presidential Security Service.

According to police on the 21st, President Yoon has been charged with obstruction of official duties with special circumstances. However, even if charged as a suspect for this offense, he cannot be criminally prosecuted due to his status as the incumbent president.

The police special martial law investigation unit has reportedly secured text messages exchanged between President Yoon and Kim Sung-hoon, deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service, regarding the prevention of arrest warrant execution.

President Yoon and Deputy Chief Kim were confirmed to have exchanged text messages through Signal, a U.S. messaging app, during the first arrest warrant execution attempt on January 3rd. Signal is known for its high security with encrypted messaging.

Messages were also exchanged four days later on January 7th. They reportedly contained President Yoon's instructions for the Security Service to actively intervene if a second arrest attempt were to be made. Deputy Chief Kim, known as a hardliner within the Security Service, subsequently issued orders to staff to prevent the arrest, but President Yoon was arrested on January 15th when Security Service staff did not comply.

However, a police official stated, "We cannot confirm the specific content of the messages."

Lee Song-ryeol, Hankyung.com reporter yisr0203@hankyung.com