Park Jong-joon, the head of South Korea’s Presidential Security Service, has resigned amid a growing political crisis surrounding the possible arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, Al Jazeera reports.
Park’s resignation comes after he warned authorities against any actions that could lead to “bloodshed” during a potential second attempt to detain the suspended president.
The office of acting President Choi Sang-mok confirmed Park’s departure on Friday, accepting his resignation shortly after he appeared for questioning by police investigating allegations of obstruction of public duty.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived for questioning at the Joint Investigation Headquarters in Seoul, Park expressed concerns that attempting to execute another arrest warrant against Yoon could spark violence.
“I came here today with the belief that under no circumstances should there be any physical clashes or bloodshed, and am hoping to prevent such incidents from occurring,” he said.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) and police are preparing to make a second attempt to detain Yoon. This follows an earlier attempt last week, where Yoon’s security detail blocked investigators from executing a warrant at his office residence. The anticorruption agency abandoned its initial bid, citing concerns for the safety of its personnel following an hours-long standoff.
Yoon is under investigation for alleged insurrection and abuse of power stemming from his controversial, short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3. The declaration plunged South Korea into its deepest political crisis in decades and led to his impeachment by the National Assembly on December 14. If arrested, Yoon would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be detained.
Park, who had previously ignored two summons to appear for questioning, defended Yoon, claiming he was being treated unfairly and that investigations should be carried out with respect for the “dignity of the nation.”
Yoon’s legal team has argued that attempts to detain the suspended president lack a legal basis and has called on authorities to either indict him or seek a formal arrest warrant, which would require a court hearing.
Despite the legal turmoil surrounding Yoon, recent polls suggest a shift in public sentiment. A Gallup Korea survey published on Friday indicates that 64 percent of respondents support Yoon’s removal from office, down from 75 percent shortly after the martial law decree. Furthermore, the People Power Party (PPP), to which Yoon belongs, has seen its approval rating rise to 34 percent, up from 24 percent about a month ago.
