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.
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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 stand-off 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-corruption body that is leading the investigation with police said on Friday it was working out its next steps.
Yoon’s December 3 declaration of martial law stunned South Korea and led to his impeachment and suspension from duties on December 14. The president’s political fate is in the hands of the Constitutional Court.
His legal fate is being fought over by an array of law enforcement agencies against Yoon’s forces – with Park in a pivotal position.
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Appointed by Yoon in September, Park had already played a role in preventing investigators from executing search warrants for the president’s offices and residences, citing national security.