Presidential Security Service

History

The PSS had been established in 1949 as the Kyong Mu Dae Presidential Security Police. 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.

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 under the direction of the Gyeongmundae Police Force. Yet Pak Chong-gyu headed the PSS from 1963 to 1974. PSS responsibilities were increased after North Korean soldiers of the 124th Army Unit attacked the Blue House in 1968.

In 1974, the PSS was 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) after Park Chung Hee's wife, Yuk Young-soo was killed.

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 was mandated, by the revision of PSS directives, to protect former South Korean presidents and their families.

The PSS was involved in the close protection of Pope John Paul II during an attempt to attack him when he visited the country on May 6, 1984 in Seoul.

On February 1, 1989, the Cheongnamdae (Presidential retreat) guard squad was formed.

On April 1, 1993, the Mugunghwa Dongsa (Korean: Clearing away of the security house) division was created to act as a counter-terrorism unit. On March 3, 1999, a PSS Multi Security Training Center was created.

During the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the PSS established the Cheong Wa Dae World Cup Safety Measures Team and the World Cup Security & Safety Control Division to bolster security on South Korean soil

The PSS was relieved of their guard duties of the Blue House on April 18, 2003 as jurisdiction was given to the Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial Government. On January 1, 2005, the Pusan APEC Security Safety Control Group was established by the PSS

The Presidential Security Safety Measures Committee was legalized as a committee on March 10, 2005.

Duties

Among the duties conducted by PSS agents include close protection for the following:

1. President of South Korea and family
2. Blue House
3. Former Presidents of South Korea and family after 7 years
4. Visiting heads of state
5. Domestic/Foreign VIPs, under approval of the PSS

Organization

As of 2008, the PSS had been organized into the following:

Code and Pledge

The PSS has a code and a pledge that its agents must abide by at all times:

Code

Unity - The will for unity amongst all and conformity with the President reflecting the teamwork orientated characteristic of security duties

Loyalty - The very basic mental attitude of security agents towards the nation and its people

Eternity - Security duties pursue eternal honor to the end by being with the President with a precondition of self-sacrifice

Honor - Expertise and dignity of the security duty based on sacrifice and service

Pledge

1. One, we will lay down our lives for the successful execution of our duties.
2. Another, we will act in a righteous and truthful manner.
3. Third, we will firmly unify on the basis of mutual trust.
4. Fourth, we will guard the preservation of public peace like our lives.
5. Fifth, we will guard the honor and maintain dignity.

Firearms