Park Jongjun, Former Security Chief, Faces 7-Year Sentence for Obstructing Yoon Suk Yeol Arrest... Special Prosecutor: "Devolved into Private Militia"

Seven-Year Prison Sentence Requested for Obstruction of Special Official Duties
Park Denies Charges, Says “No Intent to Protect Individual Interests”

Prosecutors have demanded a heavy sentence for former Presidential Security Service Chief Park Jongjun, who was indicted on charges of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) against former President Yoon Suk Yeol through the use of physical force. The special prosecutor's team strongly criticized that, at the time, the presidential residence had become a hideout for a criminal, and the security service had degenerated into a private militia serving former President Yoon.

Yonhap News Agency

On June 1, the Special Prosecution Team for Insurrection, led by Cho Eunsuk, requested the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 (Presiding Judge Lee Hyunkyung) to sentence Park Jongjun to seven years in prison during the final hearing on charges including obstruction of special official duties. Kim Sunghun, former Deputy Chief of the Presidential Security Service, who was tried alongside Park, was also requested to receive a seven-year prison sentence. Lee Kwangwoo, former Chief of the Security Headquarters, and Kim Shin, former Chief of Family Security, were each requested to receive five years and three years in prison, respectively.

The special prosecutor's team stated, "Although the defendants were in positions where they were required to comply with due process, they mobilized the personnel and resources of the security service to block the execution of the warrant," and criticized, "This act obstructed the judicial procedures aimed at uncovering the truth behind the crime of insurrection and rendered the rule of law meaningless." The team further pointed out, "At the time of the crime, the presidential residence was turned into an extraterritorial refuge for the leader of an insurrection, and the security service had degraded into a private militia protecting a criminal."

In contrast, during his final statement, former Chief Park Jongjun denied the charges, stating, "My intention was to fulfill my duties within the boundaries of legality, not to undermine the authority of the court for the personal protection of the President," and bowed his head in apology for causing confusion among the public. Former Deputy Chief Kim Sunghun also pleaded for leniency, asserting that there was no conspiracy or intent to threaten.

Park Jongjun and others are accused of obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant by blocking entry into the presidential residence when the CIO attempted to carry out the warrant during its investigation into former President Yoon's alleged insurrection in January of last year. Kim Sunghun is also charged with violating the Presidential Security Act by ordering the deletion of secure phone information for three military commanders under investigation, acting on former President Yoon's instructions. The verdict for the first trial is scheduled for July 9.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.