25th December 2024 – (Seoul) South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has once again declined to appear for questioning by investigators regarding his controversial martial law declaration, opting instead to focus on defending himself during an impeachment trial. Yoon did not attend the scheduled questioning by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on Wednesday morning, following his absence from an initial request the previous week, according to Yonhap News.
This pattern of avoidance may temporarily stall the investigative process, yet it raises the likelihood of potential arrest. As of now, it remains uncertain whether the CIO will issue a third summons or pursue an arrest warrant. Oh Dong-woon, head of the CIO, indicated during a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday that a decision on seeking a warrant had not yet been made, pending Yoon’s voluntary appearance.
Earlier this month, South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach Yoon, suspending him from his presidential duties due to his unexpected declaration of martial law—an act not seen in over four decades. Yoon has vowed to vigorously defend himself, asserting that his actions fell within his constitutional authority.
Even if Yoon were to be removed from office, the protracted nature of the investigation and impeachment process could complicate matters for opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who may become ineligible for election depending on the outcome of an unrelated corruption verdict.
According to a Yoon representative, the president prioritises presenting his case to the judges at the Constitutional Court, which is scheduled to hold a preliminary hearing on his impeachment this Friday. Seok Dong-hyeon, another representative for Yoon, stated that the president is willing to testify in court to affirm the legitimacy of his impeachment while maintaining that his brief martial law declaration was not an insurrectionist act.
Should Yoon choose to testify in court, he would become the first president in South Korean history to do so among the three who have faced impeachment.
