South Korean Presidential Bodyguard’s ChatGPT Queries Fuel Martial Law Controversy
A political firestorm continues to engulf South Korea following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. At the heart of the unfolding drama is Lee Kwang-woo, the head bodyguard of South Korea’s Presidential Security Service (PSS), whose pre-martial law ChatGPT queries have ignited suspicions of collusion and potential obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors have accused Lee of using the AI chatbot ChatGPT to inquire about "martial law," "declaration of martial law," and "dissolution of the National Assembly" on December 3, 2024, just two hours before President Yoon’s controversial declaration. The timing of these searches has raised serious questions about Lee’s knowledge of Yoon’s impending actions and whether he was complicit in the president’s alleged attempt to subvert the democratic process.
Yoon’s ill-fated "self-coup," as it has been dubbed by critics, lasted only six hours, but its repercussions have been far-reaching. The fallout has included Yoon’s impeachment, arrest, and subsequent release, leaving his political future hanging in the balance as the courts deliberate his potential removal from office.
The PSS, akin to America’s Secret Service but possessing a power more reminiscent of the Roman Praetorian Guard, has found itself at the epicenter of this political turmoil. Historically, the PSS has been a formidable force in South Korean politics, renowned for its unwavering loyalty to the office of the president. Following the declaration of martial law, Yoon retreated to a fortified compound in central Seoul, shielded by a PSS cordon of 200 troops and 10 buses, effectively thwarting initial attempts by prosecutors to apprehend him.
Lee, in his capacity as head of the PSS’s bodyguard division, played a critical role in the events surrounding Yoon’s arrest. During the second attempt by prosecutors to take Yoon into custody in January, Lee allegedly advocated for the use of force to deter law enforcement. According to reports, Lee instructed his team to arm themselves with MP7 submachine guns, purportedly stating, "If the secondary gate is breached, run out with the submachine guns." While the situation did not escalate to the point of gunfire, Lee’s willingness to contemplate such measures underscores the depth of loyalty within the PSS and its determination to protect the president. Ultimately, prosecutors were able to serve the warrant and arrest Yoon, but not without significant resistance from the PSS.
Lee and other members of the PSS have become entangled in the impeachment proceedings against Yoon, facing obstruction of justice charges related to their efforts to shield the president and the potential deletion of digital records relevant to the case. It was during the investigation of these digital records that investigators reportedly uncovered Lee’s curious ChatGPT inquiries from December 3.
According to the South Korean daily newspaper The Hankyoreh, Lee’s ChatGPT searches about the implications of Yoon declaring martial law occurred at 8:30 p.m., two hours before Yoon publicly announced his plan. Lee’s lawyer has contested the timeline, claiming that prosecutors have misinterpreted the digital forensics evidence. While not denying that Lee conducted the searches, the lawyer argues that they took place after Yoon’s declaration, suggesting a reactive rather than proactive motive.
The crux of the matter lies in determining whether Lee conducted the ChatGPT searches before or after Yoon’s declaration. If the searches occurred beforehand, it would strongly suggest that Lee had prior knowledge of Yoon’s intentions and may have been involved in planning the martial law declaration. As the various trials related to the events of December 3 progress, it is imperative for prosecutors and the public to ascertain who knew what and when. The central question remains: Did Lee collude with Yoon in a premeditated plot, or was he merely reacting to his superior’s actions? The answers to these questions may reside within the digital footprints of Lee’s interactions with ChatGPT.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, The Hankyoreh also reported that the court dismissed some of the obstruction charges against Lee and other members of the PSS, suggesting that the legal case against them may not be as airtight as prosecutors initially believed. The dismissal of these charges could potentially weaken the prosecution’s case against Yoon as well, raising questions about the strength of the evidence and the likelihood of his removal from office.
The unfolding saga involving President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Presidential Security Service, and a bodyguard’s ChatGPT queries has captured the attention of South Korea and the international community. The implications of this case extend far beyond the fate of individual actors, touching upon fundamental questions of democratic governance, the balance of power, and the role of technology in shaping political events. As the trials continue and new evidence emerges, the truth behind the December 3 events will hopefully come to light, shedding light on the extent of any wrongdoing and the future of South Korea’s political landscape.
