Scandal-hit presidential guard pledges sweeping reform

The Presidential Security Service (PSS) on May 20 unveiled sweeping reforms aimed at restoring trust and accountability, including requiring its chief to testify before the National Assembly and appointing an external auditor — a rare step for the traditionally opaque agency.

The announcement follows months of fallout from the PSS’s controversial move to block the arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol late last year. The agency cited the Presidential Security Act to justify its intervention, but the act drew fierce criticism and calls for systemic reform from across the political spectrum.

Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials confront members of the Presidential Security Service at the entrance to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on Jan. 3, 2025, as they attempt to execute an arrest warrant for then-President Yoon Suk-yeol./Kim Ji-ho

In a press release, the PSS said it launched a task force in April to lead the overhaul and foster a more transparent, law-abiding organizational culture. Among the headline proposals: legally mandating the director’s parliamentary appearances and opening the auditor role to outside candidates.

The agency’s credibility was shaken after a court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon on Dec. 30 on insurrection charges. The PSS physically blocked the warrant’s execution, citing its legal obligation to protect the sitting president. The move sparked a political firestorm and led to criminal investigations into top agency brass, including then-Director Park Jong-jun and Deputy Director Kim Sung-hoon. Both faced charges of obstructing justice. Park resigned on Jan. 10, just days after a second arrest warrant was issued. Kim, who briefly took over as acting director, stepped down on April 21 following Yoon’s removal from office.

Ahn Kyung-ho, the agency’s current acting director, has since led efforts to turn the page. On April 24, he launched the “Reform Task Force,” selecting its members through an open application process regardless of rank or title — a notable shift in an agency known for its rigid hierarchy.

Along with bolstering legislative oversight, the PSS said it plans to revise laws to allow open recruitment for the inspector general role and has created a new compliance officer post. It also launched an anonymous internal message board to promote communication in what has long been a closed, top-down culture shaped by security imperatives.

Looking ahead, the agency said it would introduce a continuous training and evaluation system for all staff and push to enshrine political neutrality as a formal legal obligation.

[Kim Kyeong-pil]

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