SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Seoul district court on Tuesday issued a warrant to arrest the acting chief of the presidential security service (PSS) who blocked an attempt earlier this month to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, as some South Korean media reports expect a second attempt to arrest Yoon would be on Wednesday.
The PSS blocked the first attempt by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) to arrest Yoon at the presidential residence on Jan. 3. And local media said that it would again block the operation by the investigators.
The blockade prompted long-lasting controversies about the PSS over its power in the country.
WHAT IS THE PSS
The Presidential Security Service of South Korea is a specialized agency responsible for the security of the country's president, tasked with ensuring the president's absolute safety. Its organization and duties are governed by the Presidential Security Act.
The PSS was established in 1963 when Park Chung-hee became president. He transformed presidential security from being police-managed to a direct presidential responsibility, marking the beginning of the PSS functioning as a "personal guard institution" for the president.
Since then, its basic framework as a presidential body has remained unchanged, with the appointment of the head of the PSS being the exclusive prerogative of the president.
CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE PSS
The PSS's refusal to cooperate in executing the arrest warrant has sparked public debate in South Korea.
The Hankyoreh newspaper pointed out that there have long been fears that the PSS, as an extension of presidential authority, lacks any effective system of checks and balances and might abuse its power.
Lawmakers from opposition parties have recently proposed bills to abolish the PSS. Some have submitted legislation advocating the transfer of presidential security duties to the National Police Agency.
In 2023, the South Korean government attempted to amend regulations to grant the PSS chief more authority for background checks, but the proposal ultimately failed. The proposed 2025 budget for the PSS also drew criticism, as it represented a 43.4 percent increase compared to 2022.
Critics argue that the PSS's law-defying behavior demonstrates its transformation into a "presidential guard unit," calling for urgent reforms to the agency. ■
