The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 02, 2025
Today: April 02, 2025

South Korea's Yoon defies second agency summons over martial law

FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Seoul
December 25, 2024
Minwoo Park - Reuters

By Minwoo Park and Hyunsu Yim

GWACHEON, South Korea (Reuters) -South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol did not respond on Wednesday to a second summons by anti-corruption authorities who, along with prosecutors, are investigating his short-lived martial law decree issued early this month.

Yoon had not appeared for questioning as of 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Christmas Day as requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), after ignoring its first summons last week.

An agency official said it would continue waiting for Yoon on Wednesday, adding it would need to review the case further before seeking an arrest warrant, Yonhap news agency reported.

An official with a joint investigation unit, which the CIO is part of, told reporters later in the day that it had neither heard back from Yoon nor received a document for the appointment of his legal counsel as of 6 p.m. (0900 GMT). The unit would conduct a review and decide on further moves, the official said.

Yoon also did not respond on Dec. 15 to a separate summons by prosecutors who are 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 that Yoon would appear for Wednesday's questioning, adding without elaborating that the conditions had not been met yet.

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 Dec. 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 Dec. 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.

(Reporting by Minwoo Park in Gwacheon and Hyunsu Yim in Seoul; Editing by Edmund Klamann and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

Share This

Popular

Asia|Business|Economy|Finance|Political|Stock Markets|US

Stock market today: Wall Street rises in another jittery day ahead of Trump's tariff announcement

Stock market today: Wall Street rises in another jittery day ahead of Trump's tariff announcement
Africa|Asia|MidEast|Political|Technology|US|World

Trump adviser Waltz's team set up 20 Signal group chats for world crises, Politico reports

Trump adviser Waltz's team set up 20 Signal group chats for world crises, Politico reports
Asia|Europe|Political|World

UK expresses concern over Chinese military exercises around Taiwan

UK expresses concern over Chinese military exercises around Taiwan
Asia|Business|Economy|Finance|Political|Stock Markets|US

US equities gain, dollar weakens while gold rises as tariff news looms

US equities gain, dollar weakens while gold rises as tariff news looms

Political

Environment|Political|US

Federal judge questions whether EPA move to rapidly cancel 'green bank' grants was legal

Federal judge questions whether EPA move to rapidly cancel 'green bank' grants was legal
Election|Political|US

Democrats demoralized by Trump get a boost from Wisconsin voters and Cory Booker's speech

Democrats demoralized by Trump get a boost from Wisconsin voters and Cory Booker's speech
Health|Political|Science|US

Scientists sue NIH, saying politics cut their research funding

Scientists sue NIH, saying politics cut their research funding
Business|Economy|Political|US

Trump unveils global reciprocal tariffs

Trump unveils global reciprocal tariffs

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In