Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol did not show up for questioning by the country’s corruption watchdog on Wednesday, following his summons regarding allegations tied to a proposed martial law.
Yoon was removed from his official duties by parliament over the weekend after his brief declaration of martial law on December 3 triggered a significant political crisis in the nation.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) had requested Yoon’s appearance at their facility in suburban Seoul at 10:00 AM (0100 GMT) to address charges of insurrection and abuse of power.
“President Yoon did not comply with his summons today,” an official from the CIO confirmed to AFP.
Yoon’s legal team asserted on Tuesday that he did not engage in insurrection and expressed their intent to contest the charges in court, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
“While we believe the insurrection charges lack legal foundation, we will cooperate with the investigation,” said Seok Dong-hyeon, a member of Yoon’s legal team.
Additionally, the CIO noted this week that the summons issued to Yoon was returned as “undelivered” after an unidentified individual at the presidential office declined to accept it.
The CIO indicated that Yoon’s absence on Wednesday would be regarded as a failure to comply with the initial summons. They are considering sending a second summons and, according to CIO chief Oh Dong-woon, are also evaluating the possibility of seeking an arrest warrant.
Yoon is currently under investigation by both South Korean prosecutors and a joint team consisting of police, defense ministry officials, and anti-corruption investigators. If convicted, he and certain associates could face severe penalties including life imprisonment or the death penalty, and he remains subject to an international travel ban.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which commenced proceedings against Yoon on Monday, is separately considering the validity of his impeachment. The court has ordered Yoon to submit the martial law decree issued two weeks ago and the records of cabinet meetings held immediately before and after his announcement.
The judges have a six-month period to reach a decision on Yoon’s case, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 27, although attendance is not mandatory for Yoon.