Seoul, South Korea – Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok has issued a fresh summons for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, demanding his presence for a second round of questioning at 9 AM on June 30. The special prosecution team has indicated that there will be no limit to the number of investigations into the former leader, asserting that substantial areas of inquiry remain.
Special Prosecutor Assistant Park Ji-young confirmed on June 29 that the initial round of questioning had been incomplete. Key areas, including allegations of obstruction of arrest, were halted due to the former president's request for a change in interrogator. Furthermore, the investigation by prosecutors that commenced in the afternoon covered only a fraction of the outstanding issues, necessitating the new summons.
The ongoing probe stems from former President Yoon's controversial declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, 2024, at 10:30 PM KST. In an unannounced televised address, Yoon cited "anti-state activities" and threats from "North Korean communist forces" as justification for the decree, which notably prohibited all political activities, including those of the National Assembly, and placed media under military control. This marked the first such declaration in South Korea in four decades, triggering widespread public alarm and political turmoil.
However, the National Assembly swiftly moved to counter the decree. Within hours, all 190 lawmakers present unanimously voted to lift the martial law, invoking Article 77 of the South Korean Constitution, which mandates presidential compliance with such parliamentary requests. Faced with overwhelming opposition, former President Yoon rescinded the martial law at 4:30 AM on December 4, just six hours after its imposition. The Constitutional Court subsequently ruled Yoon's declaration unconstitutional, leading to his impeachment and removal from office in April. He was arrested in January and indicted on charges of abuse of power and leading an insurrection, though he was later released in March to await trial.
The special prosecution's investigation, launched two weeks prior to the latest summons, encompasses a range of serious allegations against Yoon. These include:
Insurrection: The primary charge, stemming from his declaration of martial law.
Obstruction of Arrest Warrant Execution: Yoon is accused of mobilizing the presidential security service in January to impede the anti-corruption agency's attempt to execute an arrest warrant related to the martial law incident.
Deletion of Encrypted Phone Data: Investigators are scrutinizing allegations that Yoon ordered the deletion of secure phone data belonging to military commanders involved in the martial law decree, specifically Kwak Jong-geun, Yeo In-hyung, and Lee Jin-woo, on December 7, 2024. Police have uncovered evidence of remote data deletion on secure phones used by Yoon and other high-ranking officials following a key intelligence official's testimony about Yoon's directives to arrest politicians. While some reports suggest the deletion order was not fully executed, authorities have reportedly recovered most of the data through forensic efforts.
Obstruction of National Assembly Resolution: Allegations that Yoon hindered the National Assembly's swift resolution to lift the martial law.
Foreign Exchange Charges: Specific details regarding these charges have not yet been fully disclosed.
The special prosecution team, led by Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok and his assistant Park Ji-young, comprises over 200 prosecutors and investigators, signaling the gravity and extensive nature of the probe. The team has emphasized that former President Yoon will not receive preferential treatment. While a previous attempt by the special counsel to secure an arrest warrant for Yoon on June 24 was rejected by a court on June 25, the prosecution remains resolute in its determination to thoroughly investigate the charges.
Despite the former president's legal team stating that his appearance on June 30 is still being "adjusted," Special Prosecutor Assistant Park expressed confidence in Yoon's attendance, citing his previous cooperation during questioning. Park affirmed that future summonses would adhere to the "public summons" principle. Furthermore, the investigation is expected to extend to State Council members who participated in the deliberation and approval of the emergency martial law declaration, with the special prosecution reviewing all relevant records, including those transferred from police and existing special investigation headquarters. The ongoing investigation signifies a pivotal moment in South Korean legal and political history, as a former president faces unprecedented charges related to an attempted declaration of martial law.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
