A joint investigative unit probing the Dec. 3 martial law declaration by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the presidential office to deliver a questioning summons notice, Monday. (Yonhap)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces mounting pressure to appear for questioning as the interagency investigation unit probing the Dec. 3 martial law declaration attempted to summon him on Monday, the same day prosecutors also issued a second summons.
The joint investigative unit, consisting of the Korean National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the Criminal Investigation Command of the Defense Ministry, said Monday that it attempted to deliver a summons to the presidential office at 10:33 a.m., Wednesday.
The summons requested that Yoon, accused of leading an insurrection and abuse of power, appear at the CIO headquarters at the Government Complex in Gwacheon at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
However, the presidential office declined to accept delivery of the document, citing the suspension of Yoon’s constitutional duties following his impeachment by the National Assembly on Saturday.
“The Presidential Secretariat stated that it was unclear whether delivering a summons notice during the president’s suspension of duties falls under their responsibilities,” an official with the joint investigation unit told the press on Monday.
Later in the day, another team of investigators was dispatched to Yoon’s residence to deliver the summons, but the Presidential Security Service declined to accept it, saying it was "beyond the scope" of their duties.
Authorities said a summons was also sent via express mail to the Presidential Secretariat. Whether it has been delivered remains unclear.
The summons outlines allegations of abuse of power against Yoon, accusing him of leading an insurrection tied to his Dec. 3 martial law declaration.
It is not the first time Yoon has rejected a request from the authorities to appear for questioning.
On Sunday, prosecutors said Yoon rejected an order from the prosecution to appear for questioning that was sent on Wednesday.
Prosecutors summoned Yoon to appear for questioning again at 2 p.m., Monday.
Although the prosecution can seek a court-issued arrest warrant if Yoon continues to defy such orders, authorities said that option is not being considered for now.
Currently, two investigative bodies have begun looking into the martial law case, one led by the police and the other led by prosecutors. Prosecutors had requested police cooperation on a joint investigation, but the police declined, saying that insurrection falls under the “investigative jurisdiction of the police.”
As both the police and the prosecution investigation teams issued summons notices separately to the president, eyes are on which -- if any -- authority the president will respond to.
The police attempted to raid the presidential office on Dec. 11 after obtaining a search and seizure warrant listing Yoon as a suspect. However, such seizure attempts have so far failed as the Presidential Security Service has not permitted law enforcement to enter the presidential office, citing the Criminal Procedure Act.
Prosecutors, on the other hand, have taken the lead in detaining key suspects, such as former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former military counterintelligence chief Yeo In-hyung.
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