Yoon Suk-yeol Detained After Being Impeached, What Are The Security Protocols For His Wife And Wife?

South Korean Paspampres while escorting President Yoon (Instagram/@presidential_security_service)

JAKARTA - The detention of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol after being impeached last month raises questions about the security protocol of him and First Lady Kim Keon-hee.

That arises because Yoon is the first active president to serve in South Korea's constitutional history, observers said on Thursday.

South Korea's Presidential Security Forces (PSS) confirmed that the security protocol for Yoon remained in effect as long as he was president, even though his duties were currently suspended.

However, if Yoon is officially detained, PSS's security protocol will end.

Meanwhile, security for First Lady Kim Keon-hee will continue as usual, regardless of the status of president.

"The decision to enforce the Presidential Security Law stipulates that security services must continue as long as the individual maintains the president's status," said Park Gwan-cheon, a former presidential official on duty at the president's secretary's office for civil service discipline. January 16.

Park clarified that the decision also stipulated that security services were stopped after a president was officially arrested.

"The arrest means that the suspect's whereabouts are managed by the Ministry of Justice," he explained.

Despite clear legal provisions, confusion arose due to a lack of detailed rules regarding security protocols for detained presidents but still in office, which is an unprecedented situation.

"If there is a detention, the security office will coordinate with the detention center and carry out security checks to ensure security," Park explained.

PSS agents have been accompanying Yoon since he was detained by the Corruption Investigation Office for High Officials (CIO) and police at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul City at around 10:33 a.m. on Wednesday.

PSS provides security for about 11 hours, covering the entire period until the CIO examination ends at 9.40 pm on the same day.

When Yoon was taken to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, PSS personnel resumed their duties, accompanying him during the process.

About 30 minutes before Yoon arrived at the detention center, three PSS officers were seen inspecting the facility, reportedly examining potential security risks before Yoon's detention.

Outside, other PSS personnel assess the surrounding geography and the scale of the deployment of nearby police.

When Yoon arrived at the detention center in a security vehicle, PSS agents followed him inside and reportedly decided to maintain security protocols during his detention.

Details about the ongoing PSS security operations are still kept secret due to its secret nature. However, it has been reported that PSS and the Seoul Detention Center are continuing to discuss determining the exact method and level of security.

Meanwhile, security for the first lady will continue. Kim has lived in the president's residence with Yoon until his detention, and is reportedly still there.

Since Kim remains legally recognized as the president's wife, she will continue to receive security protection. Although the number of individuals requiring security has decreased, the total number of security personnel will remain the same, due to the permanent staff requirements.

Furthermore, even if Yoon is removed from office after the impeachment decision by the Constitutional Court, Kim remains entitled to security services during "the required period" according to the Law on Honorary Treatment of the Former President.

After the detention period ended, security protocols became clearer.

If Yoon is officially arrested, security services will be suspended while he is in prison.

However, after he is released from prison either after serving a full sentence or being forgiven security services will continue as part of the honor given to the former president.

In Ginseng Country, the former president has the right to protect security services for up to 10 years, and this applies equally to the president's family, including the first lady.