Court reviews arrest warrants for 2 presidential security officials

A Seoul court on Friday held a hearing to review arrest warrants for two Presidential Security Service (PSS) officials accused of obstructing investigators' attempt to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in January.

The Seoul Western District Court held the hearing for acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon and Lee Kwang-woo, chief of the PSS's bodyguard division, following the prosecution's request for their arrests in connection with the failed first attempt to detain Yoon on Jan. 3.

Kim and Lee are accused of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant for Yoon, taking unjust personnel measures against PSS officials who disobeyed their orders and instructing subordinates to delete records of phone conversations between Yoon and military commanders involved in his Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

"I was taught and trained that the highest honor for a security guard is to dedicate my life for the president's safety," Kim told reporters as he arrived at the court. "If we were to neglect this duty for fear of punishment, I see no reason for the existence of the PSS."

Asked whether his actions were based on the president's orders, Kim said they were not and that he was simply carrying out his duties under the law.

Lee entered the court without answering reporters' questions.

Prosecutors previously rejected the police's request to seek arrest warrants for Kim and Lee three times and twice, respectively, but a warrant review panel sided with the police earlier this month, concluding it was appropriate for the prosecution to request the warrants.

Police applied for the warrants again on Monday, and the prosecution filed them the following day. (Yonhap)