In hot water: A screen displaying a news report on Yoon at Seoul Station in Seoul, South Korea after he skipped questioning by a joint investigation team. — Bloomberg
Impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol skipped questioning by a joint investigation team, according to local media reports, increasing the risk of his arrest.
Yoon didn’t appear for a scheduled 10am questioning by the joint team, which consists of the defence ministry, police and an anti-corruption investigative body, according to SBS. The investigators will consider sending a second summons, the broadcaster reported.
South Korea’s parliament voted on Saturday to impeach Yoon, suspending him from office after his shocking declaration of martial law earlier this month sparked a constitutional crisis. Yoon vowed to never give up, signalling his intent to fight in court to retain his job and contending his martial-law decree was within his constitutional powers.
Investigative officials are seeking to question Yoon over the opposition’s allegations that he committed treason. Another team, led by prosecutors, has also been trying to summon Yoon and requested for him to appear on Saturday.
Yoon’s lawyer told the media on Tuesday that he has not completed assembling his defence team and will make a statement in the coming days about the investigation agencies’ request for his appearance.
The lawyer also said investigative agencies appear to be competing to issue summons and attendance requests, and this situation needs to be addressed.
Yesterday, the prosecutors’ office said it will transfer Yoon’s case to the anti-corruption investigative body to prevent duplicate probes, though the office will retain the authority to indict the president, according to Yonhap News.
Two South Korean ministers held a joint briefing on Wednesday, with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul saying Yoon’s martial law declaration has made it difficult for the country to maintain its diplomatic momentum with the US ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. — Bloomberg
