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Ex-presidents

Former President Yoon Accused of Ordering Security Staff to Display Firearms During Detention Attempt

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The special counsel team has accused former President Yoon Suk Yeol of ordering his security staff to show off firearms when he resisted investigators' attempt to detain him in January. The team, investigating Yoon's Dec. 3 martial law imposition, alleged that the former president made the instruction to senior Presidential Security Service (PSS) officials on Jan. 11, four days before anti-corruption and police officials apprehended him. Yoon's lawyers have rejected the allegations, claiming his detention was made with an illegal warrant. The team also accused Yoon of instructing Kim Seong-hoon, then deputy chief of the PSS, to delete records of secure phones used by three former military commanders allegedly involved in martial law operations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Former President Yoon Suk Yeol is accused of ordering his security staff to display firearms during a detention attempt in January.
  • The special counsel team alleges that Yoon made the instruction to senior Presidential Security Service (PSS) officials on Jan. 11.
  • Yoon's lawyers claim his detention was made with an illegal warrant and that the allegations against him do not stand.
  • The team also accused Yoon of instructing Kim Seong-hoon, then deputy chief of the PSS, to delete records of secure phones used by three former military commanders allegedly involved in martial law operations.
  • Yoon allegedly ordered his security staff to carry guns as police investigators would be "afraid" of them.
  • The special counsel team charged Yoon with obstruction of special official duties, abuse of authority, and other charges related to his attempts to resist detention.
  • Yoon's lawyers argued that the charge of deleting records does not stand as the records were not deleted.
  • The former president allegedly instructed the presidential spokesperson for foreign press on Dec. 4 to explain the situation to foreign media based on false information.

Statistics:

  • 66-page arrest warrant request document filed by the special counsel team.
  • 4 days: the time gap between Yoon's instruction to senior PSS officials and his detention attempt.
  • 3 martial law operations: allegedly involved three former military commanders.
  • 12 Dec. 3: the date on which Yoon imposed martial law.

Sources:

  • Yonhap News Agency (July 7, 2025)
  • Arrest warrant request document obtained by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.

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