May 6, 1984 in Seoul. On February 1, 1989, the Cheongnamdae (Presidential retreat) guard squad was formed. On April 1, 1993, the Mugunghwa Dongsa (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. PSS has been through numerous changes across administrations, such as the status of its head – ministerial or vice-ministerial – and organisation itself from the office to the division as well as its hierarchy within the Office of the President. President Moon Jae-in lowered the status of the head of PSS to a vice ministerial level and downgraded its status to an independent division under the President although its English name does not reflect this changes. Duties Among the duties conducted by PSS agents include close protection for the following: The President of South Korea and his/her family The President-elect and his/her family The Acting President and his/her spouse Former Presidents and their spouse and children receive security service protection within ten (10) years after retirement from office only where it is not against his/her wish Head of a state or head of executive branch of a foreign country visiting Korea, and his/her spouse Any other domestic and foreign persons that the Chief of the Presidential Security Service deems to be necessary to protect Organization As of 2008, the PSS had been organized into the following: Head of the PSS Inspector General Vice Head of the PSS Headquarters for Innovation & Planning Headquarters for Administration Headquarters for Protection Headquarters for Intelligence & Security Headquarters for Education & Training The PSS has a code and a pledge that its agents must abide by at all times: Code and Pledge Code Unity - The will for unity amongst all and conformity with the President reflecting the teamwork orientated characteristic of security