Presidential Security Service, 55th Guard Corps, 33rd Military Police Guard Cor

[Urgent press release]

<Presidential Security Service, 55th Guard Corps, 33rd Military Police Guard Corps / Official Residence Security Service Appeals to Stop Using Illegal Acts>

- 55th Guard Commander to file charges against 33rd Military Police Chief 'obstruction of exercise of authority abuse rights' and 'obstruction of execution of special public affairs' -

On January 3, 2025, our citizens watched the execution of the arrest warrant on live broadcast after the presidential security and military security forces blocked the Yoon Suk Yeol of the rebellion. There were scenes of military troops blocking arrest by building human walls with their arms crossed, and even mobilizing military tactical armored vehicles capable of carrying heavy weapons, but the security office is responding shamelessly, saying, "We have never mobilized 55 guards (of radiation personnel) to stop the arrest warrant. We have replaced them with security personnel in preparation for the escalation of confrontation."

However, according to multiple reports from the Military Human Rights Center, the unit under the command was mobilized for sabotage of the arrest, including troops from the 33rd Military Police (MPS), in addition to the already-known 55th Guard Corps. The commanders ordered the troops to stand at the first and second cordons to defend themselves against hand-to-hand fire in order to block the attempted arrest of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. The informants criticized commanders such as the 55th Guards Commander (colonel Kim Jin-sung, 58th sergeant), and the 33rd Military Police (colonel Lee Don-yeop, 61st sergeant) for only giving instructions to their subordinates and falling back, let alone resisting unwarranted orders. The informants called for an end to sending troops to obstruct the arrest, fearing that they would become criminals in the first place.

Obstruction of law enforcement by mobilizing troops and firearms is clearly an act of rebellion against the Constitution. Presidential Security Service Chief Park Jong-joon, 55th Security Commander Kim Jin-seong, and 33rd Military Police Chief Lee Don-yeop are also well aware that mobilizing troops to obstruct arrest is unconstitutional and illegal act that disturbs the Constitution. While some even claim that Security Service Chief Park Jong-joon ordered the firing of horror bullets if pushed by a physical fight and firing of live bullets if not, who and how did they decide to put the military forces into the crime of obstructing arrest with the intention of losing the arrest?

The execution of an arrest warrant for a Yoon Suk Yeol of a rebellion is a judicial procedure prescribed by law. Public officials, regardless of their rank and affiliation, are obligated to comply with the law and regulations. However, Kim Jin-sung, the 55th Guard commander, and Lee Don-yeop, the 33rd Military Police Guard commander, ignored these obligations and ordered their subordinates to take the lead in disturbing the legal order. In particular, it is not only very irresponsible to involve conscripts whose legal status is weak in illegal activities, but in fact, it is an act of crimes against humanity involving state power in that it is illegal forced mobilization. Something that war criminals would do is happening in the Korean military.

The police announced that the head of the 55 Guard was present as a reference for obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant by the Yoon Suk Yeol. However, since Kim Jin-sung, the 55th Guard commander, and Lee Don-yup, the 33rd Military Police Guard commander, mobilized their subordinates to perform the duty-free task of "obstructing the execution of arrest warrants" by abusing their command, it should be treated as an active participant rather than just a reference.

In response, the Military Human Rights Center will file a complaint against Kim Jin-sung, head of the 55th Guard, and Lee Don-yup, head of the 33rd Military Police Guard, on charges of obstructing the exercise of rights to abuse authority and obstructing the execution of special public affairs.

Since the first failed execution of the warrants, citizens have voluntarily taken to the streets in front of the Hannam-dong residence for three days and two nights to call for the arrest of the Yoon Suk Yeol despite cold and heavy snow. Keep in mind that no one who participates in the disturbance of the execution of the warrants by the mob will be forgiven. No more illegal activities are allowed. The Ministry of National Defense should immediately withdraw military troops from the Hannam-dong presidential residence!

2025. 1. 5.

Military Human Rights Center
Director Lim Tae-hoon