December 26, 2024
Seoul – President Yoon Seok-yeol refused to be questioned by a joint investigative panel for the second time on Wednesday morning, marking another example of his inaction and contempt for the ongoing investigation into insurrection charges and impeachment trial.
The standoff over Yoon's impeachment and investigation continues to escalate, now entering its fourth week since martial law was declared on December 3.
A joint investigative team composed of the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Office, the Korea National Police Agency's National Investigation Office and the Defense Ministry's Criminal Investigation Command issued two separate subpoenas to Yoon, requiring him to appear in court for questioning on December 12. again.
Yoon failed to show up at the Corruption Investigation Office headquarters at the Gwacheon City Hall building in Gyeonggi Province at the designated time of 10 a.m. on Christmas Day.
The joint investigative team issued the latest subpoena on December 20, but the president has refused to acknowledge or comply with any of the subpoenas. The department has not conducted any face-to-face inquiries with Yin since it was officially established on December 11.
If President Yoon fails to appear in court, a decision on whether to issue a third subpoena or seek an arrest warrant is expected as early as Thursday.
Yoon's legal team has yet to submit notice of lawyer appointment to the investigative committee, citing delays in the formation of the defense team. The office also noted that it has not received any information from the President's Office regarding the investigation.
Yin Fang insisted that the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial should take precedence over the ongoing investigation because Congress has already passed the impeachment motion. It argued that the legality of martial law should be debated publicly in an impeachment trial rather than behind closed doors by investigative agencies.
However, since the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion on December 14, Yoon has refused to accept any documents from the Constitutional Court and has not complied with its order to submit.
The Constitutional Court directed Yoon to provide minutes of the Dec. 3 cabinet meeting and martial law-related announcements by Tuesday. By the time the business closed on Christmas Day, Yin's team had yet to submit anything.
Lawyer Seok Dong-hyeon speaks to reporters at South Korea's Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, on December 19.
Instead, a close associate of Yoon criticized the Constitutional Court for rushing the impeachment trial.
Lawyer Seok Dong-hyeon said on Tuesday that he hoped to be Mr. Yoon's assistant before the president's defense team was formally formed, telling reporters that “a trial on such a major issue as the president's removal cannot be conducted hastily and carelessly.” .
Seok-sik, who previously told reporters that Yoon needed more time to assemble a defense team, said the president's lawyers planned to issue a statement after Christmas.
“This doesn't mean Yoon will resolve everything. With the first preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday, Yoon's lawyers should have something to say before the trial,” the confidant told reporters on Tuesday, hinting at the president's possible Be the first to respond.
Meanwhile, courts, Congress and investigative authorities are preparing for progress in impeachment proceedings.
In response to Shi Shi's latest remarks questioning whether the court should consider Yin's impeachment case when one-third of the judges are vacant, court press officer Li Jin reiterated on Tuesday that the Constitutional Court can conduct an impeachment trial with six judges – From deliberation to oral argument.
Even if Yin or his legal representative fails to attend, the court is still scheduled to start the first preliminary hearing on Friday.
The Congressional Impeachment Investigation Committee will serve as prosecutors in the upcoming trial and strive to resolve the impeachment issue as soon as possible.
“Regardless of Yoon's (and his lawyers') position, we will promptly file claims and apply for evidence in accordance with legal procedures,” Democratic Rep. Choi Ki-sang, the committee's secretary and spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday.
According to reports, the committee submitted to the court on Wednesday the minutes of parliamentary plenary meetings and standing committee meetings where martial law was discussed. The committee also submitted to the court a copy of the martial law order requested by Yoon.
While Yoon remains clinging to his residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, key military and police officials are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the brief period of martial law. They include former defense intelligence chief Noh Sang-won, who is accused of organizing meetings with senior military personnel to issue orders to prepare for the imposition of martial law.
