 "Who is Park Jong-joon, the head of PSS that stopped Yoon Suk Yeol's arrest?")
South Korea’s political crisis has taken an unprecedented turn, with Park Jong-joon, the chief of the Presidential Security Service (PSS), emerging as a pivotal figure in the standoff over the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Who is Park Jong-joon?
Born in 1964 in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, Park Jong-joon’s career is a reflection of his deep roots in law enforcement and public service. He graduated from Gongju National University High School and later excelled at the Korean National Police University, graduating with top honours in 1986.
His rapid ascent began when he passed the higher civil service examination in 1985 as its youngest candidate.
Over nearly three decades, Park held several key positions in South Korea’s police force. These included leadership roles such as the deputy commissioner of the National Police Agency, the head of the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, and chief of the National Police Agency’s drug investigation and innovation planning departments.
His expertise in security matters became evident when he served as deputy chief of the PSS under then-President Park Geun-hye from 2013 to 2015. Following his retirement in 2011, Park ventured into politics, running unsuccessfully for the National Assembly in 2012 and 2016.
In September 2024, Park returned to the public eye as he was appointed chief of the PSS, succeeding Kim Yong-hyun, who had transitioned to the role of defence minister, reported Yonhap.
Upon his appointment, Park vowed to ensure the flawless security of the president, stating, “The security of the president is an important task directly related to national security. I will do my utmost to perform my duty flawlessly to ensure there are no gaps in the protection of the president.”
What was Park’s role in blocking Yoon’s arrest?
On Friday (January 3, 2025), South Korea witnessed one of the most dramatic standoffs in its modern political history. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), along with police, attempted to execute an arrest warrant for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection.
The operation began at dawn, with investigators entering Yoon’s presidential residence in central Seoul. However, they were met with an unyielding wall of resistance led by Park Jong-joon and over 200 PSS agents, supported by military personnel under the PSS’s command.
The investigators managed to cross the initial security layers but were halted at the residence’s inner gates by human chains formed by PSS agents and soldiers. Despite altercations and the visible presence of firearms among the PSS personnel, no weapons were drawn during the six-hour standoff.
The CIO ultimately called off the operation at 1:30 pm (local time), citing concerns for the safety of their personnel and obstruction by the PSS. In a statement, the CIO expressed “deep regret” over the situation, accusing Yoon and his security team of non-compliance with legal procedures.
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The Presidential Security Service (PSS) is a South Korean government agency responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the president, the presidential residence, and other key personnel and facilities.
Operating under the Office of the President, the PSS is composed of highly trained agents and often works in coordination with the military and police to safeguard national security interests. The agency’s mandate includes physical protection, risk assessment, and managing crises involving threats to the president or state security.
The PSS also oversees protocols during state events, diplomatic missions, and critical national operations.
What is behind Yoon’s arrest warrant?
The events leading to this standoff trace back to December 3, 2024, when President Yoon stunned the nation by declaring martial law in a bid to counter “anti-state forces” and political opposition. The move, seen as a power grab, led to widespread condemnation and immediate political fallout.
Within hours of the declaration, South Korea’s National Assembly overturned Yoon’s martial law order in a near-unanimous vote.
Days later, on December 14, the Assembly impeached Yoon , suspending his presidential powers and initiating a process to determine his permanent removal from office.
Yoon’s actions are under criminal investigation for insurrection, a charge that carries severe penalties and no presidential immunity. The Constitutional Court is simultaneously deliberating on whether to uphold his impeachment.
How has this impacted South Korea?
While the standoff at Yoon’s residence was unfolding, hundreds of his supporters gathered outside, chanting slogans and vowing to protect the impeached president. Many waved South Korean and American flags, framing the investigation as politically motivated.
Opposition lawmakers, however, criticised Park Jong-joon and the PSS for obstructing justice. Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic Party lawmaker, urged the acting president to intervene, stating, “Do not drag the upright staff of the presidential security service and other public officials into the depths of crime.”
The CIO has named Park Jong-joon and his deputy as suspects in a criminal case for obstruction of official duty. They have been summoned for questioning, adding to the legal quagmire surrounding Yoon’s presidency.
What now for Yoon?
The arrest warrant for Yoon is valid until January 6 but the CIO for now has called off the arrest . “We’ve determined that the arrest is practically impossible,” said the CIO. Enforcing an arrest warrant poses significant challenges as long as he remains protected by the PSS.
Yoon’s legal team has also questioned the CIO’s authority to investigate insurrection charges and warned law enforcement agencies against supporting the arrest effort.
Park Jong-joon’s role in this crisis has placed him at the center of a national debate about the balance between security and the rule of law. His actions during the standoff are seen by some as a dereliction of duty and by others as a necessary step to uphold presidential security.
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