Seoul: Investigators faced another setback on Wednesday as they failed for the third time to forcibly bring in President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning related to his controversial martial law declaration, APA reports citing YONHAP. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) made efforts to question Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, but the president refused all interrogation methods, including on-site questioning.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the CIO officials spent five hours at the detention center before withdrawing, as Yoon consulted with his legal team. The CIO expressed plans to reassess their approach and decide on future steps. Yun Gap-geun, one of Yoon’s lawyers, stated that the president needed to prepare for an impeachment trial hearing at the Constitutional Court, adding that they had conveyed all necessary information to the CIO.
The legal team criticized the CIO’s persistent attempts to summon President Yoon, labeling it a “seriously illegal investigation.” They argued that forcing a suspect to participate in questioning violated the constitutional right to remain silent. Oh Dong-woon, CIO chief, urged Yoon to respect judiciary decisions, suggesting that any objections could be addressed through legal appeals.
The CIO’s attempts to bring in Yoon stem from his refusal to comply with questioning orders regarding his failed martial law bid. The only questioning session Yoon attended was after his initial apprehension, during which he remained silent. Investigators have attempted to question him at the detention center on multiple occasions but have been unsuccessful as Yoon’s team refused cooperation.
Under regulations protecting human rights, questioning suspects without consent after 9 p.m. is prohibited. Yoon returned late to the detention center on Tuesday after attending his impeachment trial and visiting a military hospital for a health examination. Oh Dong-woon remarked on the situation, comparing it to a “game of hide-and-seek,” and expressed regret over the delays, acknowledging that Yoon’s actions seemed intended to evade questioning.