Presidential Security Service
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Presidential Security Service | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1963 |
| Superseding agency | Kyong Mu Dae Presidential Security Police (First) Blue House Presidential Police (Second) |
| Jurisdiction | Government of South Korea |
| Headquarters | Near Blue House |
| Agency Executive | Yom Sang Guk, Chief Officer |
Presidential Security Service or PSS is a South Korean close protection agency. Based on the United States Secret Service, the South Korean PSS is an independent agency responsible for the protection of the President of South Korea and the Blue House.
The unit is currently being commanded by Yom Sang Guk, 12th chief officer of the PSS.[1] Its headquarters and related support units are based near the Blue House.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
The PSS had been established in 1949 as the Kyong Mu Dae Presidential Security Police[3]. Its name soon changed in 1960 to the Blue House Presidential Police with a Security Force raised in 1961 to closely guard Park Chung Hee.[3]
The unit had a name change again, this time to the PSS, after the PSS Law 157 had passed in 1963 with Hong Jong Chul as its first chief[3] under the direction of the Gyeongmundae Police Force[4]. PSS responsibilities were increased after North Korean soldiers of the 124th Army Unit had attacked the Blue House in 1968[5][6].
In 1974, the PSS had been granted more power over the South Korean military and various law enforcement agencies under the enactment of Security Committee for presidential protection (Executive Order 7246) and of Security Control Unit for presidential protection (Executive Order 7246)[7] after Park Chung Hee's wife, Yuk Young-soo was killed[8].
The abolishment of Security Committee for presidential protection (Executive Order 9692) and abolishment of Security Control Unit for presidential protection (Executive Order 9692) came in 1979 after Park Chung Hee had been assassinated. In 1981, the PSS had been mandated by the revision of PSS directives[9] in order to protect former South Korean presidents and their families[7].
The PSS had been involved in the close protection of Pope John Paul II with PSS agents protecting the Pope on May 6, 1984 in Seoul.[9]
On February 1, 1989, the Cheongnamdae (Presidential retreat) guard squad is formed.[10]
On April 1, 1993, an anti-terrorist division had been created with the Mugunghwa Dongsan (Korean: Clearing away of the security house) division on July 1, 1993[11]. On March 3, 1999, a PSS Multi Security Training Center had been created.[12]
During the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the PSS had established Cheong Wa Dae World Cup Safety Measures Team and the World Cup Security & Safety Control Division to bolster security in South Korean soil[12]
The PSS had been relieved on their duties to guard the Blue House on April 18, 2003 as jurisdiction was given to the Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial Government.[13] On January 1, 2005, the Pusan APEC Security Safety Control Group had been established by the PSS[13]
The Presidential Security Safety Measures Committee had been legalized as a committee on March 10, 2005.[13]
[edit] Duties
Among the duties conducted by PSS agents include close protection for the following:[7][14]
- President of South Korea and family.
- Blue House.
- Former Presidents of South Korea and family after 7 years.
- Visiting heads of state.
- Domestic/Foreign VIPs, under approval of the PSS.
[edit] Organization
As of 2008, the PSS had been organized into the following:[15]
- Head of PSS
-
- Inspector General
-
- Vice Head of PSS
-
- Headquarters for Innovation & Planning
- Headquarters for Administration
- Headquarters for Protection
- Headquarters for Intelligence & Security
- Headquarters for Education & Training
-
[edit] Code and Pledge
The PSS has a code and a pledge that its agents must abide by at all times:
[edit] Code
Unity - The will for unity amongst all and conformity with the President reflecting the teamwork orientated characteristic of security duties[16]
Loyalty - The very basic mental attitude of security agents towards the nation and its people[16]
Eternity - Security duties pursue eternal honor to the end by being with the President with a precondition of self-sacrifice[16]
Honor - Expertise and dignity of the security duty based on sacrifice and service[16]
[edit] Pledge
- One, we will lay down our lives for the successful execution of our duties.[16]
- Another, we will act in a righteous and truthful manner.[16]
- Third, we will firmly unify on the basis of mutual trust.[16]
- Fourth, we will guard the preservation of public peace like our lives.[16]
- Fifth, we will guard the honor and maintain dignity.[16]
[edit] References
- ^ Greetings. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ Location. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ a b c Presidential Security Service at GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ Introduction to PSS. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ History of Activities, The 3rd Republic. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ Scenes from an Unfinished War: Low-Intensity Conflict in Korea, 1966-1968
- ^ a b c Presidential Security Service at FAS.org. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ History of Activities, the 4th Republic. Retrieved on January 24, 2008
- ^ a b History of Activities, the 5th Republic. Retrieved on January 24, 2008
- ^ History of Activities, the 6th Republic. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ History of Activities, Civilian Government. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ a b History of Activities, People's Government. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ a b c History of Activities, Participatory Government. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ Duties. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ Organizations & Functions. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Code & Pledge. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.
[edit] External Links
- Official Site (Korean)
