Seoul (Web Desk/Agencies): South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday after being summoned by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) regarding his controversial martial law declaration.
Yoon had been removed from office by parliament following his brief attempt to impose martial law on December 3, an action that sparked intense political turmoil in the country.
The CIO had scheduled an appointment to question Yoon about allegations of insurrection and abuse of power, but the summons was reportedly not accepted at the presidential office.
Yoon’s legal team has denied the insurrection charges, arguing that they lack legal merit, but emphasized that they will cooperate with the investigation.
This failure to comply with the summons could lead to the CIO issuing a second one, and officials have suggested that they might also pursue an arrest warrant.
In addition to the CIO’s investigation, Yoon is under scrutiny from prosecutors and a joint team of police, military, and anti-corruption investigators.
Tensions escalated further when security forces at the presidential residence blocked investigators from accessing a computer server as part of the probe.
If found guilty, Yoon and his associates could face severe punishments, including lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty.
He remains banned from international travel. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Constitutional Court is examining whether to uphold his impeachment.
The court has given Yoon a deadline to submit relevant documents, including the martial law decree and records of key cabinet meetings.
A preliminary hearing will take place on December 27, although Yoon is not obligated to attend.