By Hyunjoo Jin and Jack Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s security chief, who is under investigation for blocking Yoon’s arrest, resigned on Friday and said any further efforts to stop the ex-leader had to avoid bloodshed.
Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 plunged one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies into a period of unprecedented political turmoil.
As a top court deliberates on lawmakers’ decision to impeach Yoon, who is holed up in his hillside residence, anti-graft officials have also opened a criminal investigation into a possible insurrection.
Last week, these officers were prevented from questioning Yoon during a six-hour standoff with the Presidential Security Service (PPS), led by Park Chong-jun.
Investigators have a warrant for Yoon’s arrest and have said they are determined to arrest him for questioning.
Park, a former senior police official, was questioned by police on Friday over his role in last week’s standoff and his office announced he had tendered his resignation.
Upon his arrival at police headquarters in downtown Seoul, he told reporters that the current attempt to arrest a sitting president was wrong and that “there should be no physical clashes or bloodshed , whatever the circumstances.”
Acting President Choi Sang-mok, in power for just two weeks and embroiled in a political cauldron, called Friday for a new way to break the impasse between investigators and Yoon’s security.
He proposed to Parliament to prepare a bill to appoint a special prosecutor. Earlier, Choi vetoed a bill for an opposition-backed special prosecutor to investigate the declaration of martial law, saying there was no guarantee an independent person would be appointed to direct the investigation.
YOON PARTY RECOVERY SUPPORT
Last Friday, hundreds of PSS agents blocked the presidential complex and prevented investigators from attempting to arrest Yoon. The investigators were withdrawn due to the risk of confrontation.
Officials from the Senior Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is leading the investigation, said PSS officers were carrying firearms during the confrontation, although no weapons were drawn .
Investigators obtained a new arrest warrant this week.
Yoon’s lawyers said the arrest warrant was illegal and invalid.
Yoon is facing a separate trial before the Constitutional Court, which is reviewing his indictment by Parliament on Dec. 14 to decide whether he should be permanently removed from office or reinstated. His lawyers said Yoon would accept that verdict.
As Yoon awaits his fate, polls released this week showed renewed support for his ruling People Power Party (PPP) and calls for his permanent impeachment have receded.
A Gallup Korea poll released Friday showed 64 percent of respondents supported Yoon’s removal, compared to 75 percent who favored it shortly after martial law was declared.
The PPP approval rate rose to 34%, a level similar to the period before Dec. 3, according to a poll of 1,004 people this week, up from 24% about a month ago.
Analysts say the prolonged uncertainty over Yoon’s fate has not only emboldened his supporters but also dampened some criticism fearing that the leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, who himself is on trial over allegations of criminal acts, can become president.
