GWACHEON, De 26 — South Korea’s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol did not respond yesterday to a second summons by anti-graft authorities who, along with prosecutors, are investigating his short-lived martial law decree issued early this month.
Yoon had not appeared for questioning as at 10am (0100 GMT) on Christmas, as requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), after ignoring its first summons last week.
An agency official yesterday said it would continue waiting for Yoon, adding it will need to review the case further before seeking an arrest warrant, Yonhap News Agency reported.
An official with a joint investigation unit, of which the CIO is part, told reporters later in the day it had neither heard back from Yoon nor received a document for the appointment of his legal counsel as at 6pm (0900 GMT). The unit would conduct a review and decide on further moves, the official said.
Yoon did not respond on December 15 to a separate summons by prosecutors investigating the martial law declaration, Yonhap said.
Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer and long-time friend of Yoon’s, told reporters on Tuesday that it was unlikely Yoon would appear for yesterday’s questioning, adding without elaborating that the conditions had not yet been met.
Yoon’s repeated defiance of the summons and failures to appear for questioning have sparked criticism and calls from the opposition for his arrest, citing concerns over potential destruction of evidence.
In a televised address on December 7, four days after the martial law declaration, Yoon said he would not evade legal and political responsibility for his actions.
He was impeached by Parliament on December 14 over his brief imposition of martial law and must now face a Constitutional Court trial on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential powers.
Prosecutors, the police and the corruption investigation office have all launched probes into Yoon and other officials, seeking to pursue charges of insurrection, abuse of power or other crimes.
Insurrection is one of the few charges for which a South Korean president does not have immunity.
Seok has said Yoon is willing to present his views in person during legal proceedings related to the martial law declaration.
— Reuters
