South Korea's political crisis deepens with arrest of presidential security chief

South Korea’s political crisis deepened on January 17 as Kim Sung Hoon, the acting chief of presidential security, was arrested upon arriving at the National Investigation Bureau headquarters in Seoul. 

He was summoned for questioning in connection with his role in obstructing the arrest of President Yoon Sook Yeol on January 3, Caliber.Az reports via Korean media.

Kim had previously ignored three summonses to appear for questioning, leading authorities to seek an arrest warrant.

Kim defended his actions, stating that his refusal to comply with the warrant was aimed at challenging what he described as "extrajudicial and illegal actions" by the Office for the Investigation of Crimes of High State Officials, which he argued lacked proper investigative authority.

The turmoil began on January 15, when President Yoon was arrested after an operation led by investigators and prosecutors. Law enforcement officers, including anti-corruption investigators and police, were dispatched to Yoon’s residence in Seoul. Yoon later described his arrest as a "voluntary appearance," explaining that he complied with the investigation to avoid potential violence. His lawyer confirmed that Yoon had been interrogated for over 10 hours and spent the night in a Seoul detention centre, but due to health concerns, he has been excused from further questioning.

This arrest is part of a broader political crisis that has gripped the country since December 2024, when President Yoon declared martial law, citing fears of government paralysis due to ongoing impeachment proceedings. The martial law measures included suspending parliamentary activities, banning political parties, and deploying military forces in Seoul. The situation escalated on 3 January when law enforcement attempted to arrest President Yoon, only to face resistance from his security detail, which blocked the authorities from conducting a search of his residence. A second arrest warrant was issued on January 7.

Following the arrest of President Yoon on January 15, many fear the continued instability will deepen the political divide. The imposition of martial law has given the military control over key areas of the country, fueling tensions and raising questions about the future of South Korea’s democratic processes.

Political opposition and civil society groups are calling for the restoration of constitutional order and democratic governance. With the arrest of key figures like Kim Sung-hoon, South Korea finds itself in an unprecedented political crisis that threatens to redefine the country’s political landscape.

By Tamilla Hasanova