The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) on Tuesday attempted to forcibly bring in President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning on criminal charges stemming from his failed attempt to impose martial law in Dec. 2024.
Yoon has refused to appear for questioning four consecutive times since he was taken into custody for an investigation on charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power.
His only prior participation occurred on the first day of his arrest, during which he remained silent.
The CIO for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which leads the joint investigation team probing Yoon, said it sent a prosecutor and six investigators to the Seoul Detention Center “to forcibly bring in the suspect or interrogate him face-to-face at the scene.”
However, the investigators arrived before Yoon, who had gone to a military hospital in central Seoul following his first appearance at his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.
The CIO appears to be planning another attempt to forcibly bring the detained president back for questioning as soon as he returns to the detention centre.
If Yoon refuses to comply with the forced summons again, investigators may interrogate him in a designated room within the detention centre.
On Monday, the CIO made an earlier attempt to forcibly summon Yoon but was thwarted by objections from his legal team.
Following a six-hour standoff, the CIO withdrew and vowed to resume the process at a later time. (Yonhap/NAN)
