
The state anti-corruption agency was again attempting to forcibly bring in President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning Tuesday on criminal charges stemming from his failed attempt to impose martial law last month.
Yoon has refused to appear for questioning four consecutive times since he was taken into custody for 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 Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, 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."
CIO vehicles were spotted entering the detention center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, at about 5:47 p.m.
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 center.
If Yoon refuses to comply with the forced summons again, investigators may conduct the interrogation in a designated room within the detention center.
On Monday afternoon, 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)