Head of South Korea Yoon's security finds himself in spotlight

5/1/2025 6:20

The man central to blocking investigators from arresting South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has come under the spotlight himself in the

political crisis sparked by Yoon's brief declaration of martial law last month.



Park Chong-jun, who reports directly to Yoon, was instrumental in rebuffing the investigators' attempt on Friday to serve an arrest warrant on Yoon, resulting in a six-hour standoff in Yoon's official residence.



Presidential guards and military troops prevented authorities from arresting Yoon for alleged insurrection on the warrant, which is valid through Monday. The anti-graft body that is leading the investigation with police said on Friday it was working out its next steps.



Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law stunned South Korea and led to his impeachment and suspension from duties on Dec. 14. The president's political fate is in the hands of the Constitutional Court.