Yoon of South Korea disobeys the second agency’s Martial Law summons

Yoon Suk Yeol, the suspended president of South Korea, was summoned again Wednesday by anti-corruption officials and prosecutors to explain his brief martial law order that was imposed earlier this month, but he did not reply.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) had issued a summons last week, but Yoon had not shown up for interrogation as of 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Christmas Day.
According to Yonhap news agency, an agency official stated that it would wait for Yoon on Wednesday and that it would investigate the matter more before requesting an arrest order.

As of 6 p.m. (0900 GMT), a representative of the joint investigative unit, of which the CIO is a member, informed reporters that it had not received a paper appointing Yoon’s legal counsel and had not heard back from Yoon. The official stated that the unit will analyze the situation and determine what to do next.

Prosecutors looking into the proclamation of martial law also summoned Yoon separately on December 15 but he did not reply, according to Yonhap.

Lawyer and longtime friend Seok Dong-hyeon, who is close to Yoon, told reporters Tuesday that it was doubtful Yoon would show up for questioning on Wednesday, without going into detail, adding that the requirements had not yet been fulfilled.

Concerns about possible evidence destruction have led to criticism and requests for Yoon’s arrest due to his persistent refusal to attend for interrogation and disobedience of the summons.

During a broadcast speech on December 7, four days after martial law was declared, Yoon said that he would not avoid political and legal accountability for his conduct.

A Constitutional Court hearing is now required to decide whether to remove him from office or reinstate his presidential powers after parliament impeached him on December 14 for his short declaration of martial law.

The corruption investigation office, the police, and prosecutors have all started looking into Yoon and other officials in an effort to bring accusations of insurgency, abuse of authority, or other offenses.

One of the rare offenses for which a president of South Korea is not immune is insurrection.

Yoon is prepared to personally voice his opinions during court procedures pertaining to the martial law proclamation, according to Seok.