President Yoon Summoned Before Impeachment Approval... "Lawyer Not Yet Appointed"

It was reported on the 15th that President Yoon Seok-yeol did not respond to the prosecution's summons, citing reasons such as 'hiring a lawyer.'

President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo by Yonhap News

The Special Investigation Headquarters for Martial Law Emergencies of the Prosecution (Head: Park Se-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office) announced on the same day that they had notified President Yoon to appear at 10 a.m. on the 15th, but he did not comply. President Yoon is the accused and a suspect in a case involving charges of rebellion under the Criminal Act and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights.

However, President Yoon's side reportedly conveyed that it is difficult for him to appear because the hiring of a lawyer has not yet been completed. It is known that President Yoon is forming a legal team centered around legal professionals he is acquainted with, including former Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Kim Hong-il.

The prosecution's first summons to President Yoon was issued on the 11th, which is earlier than the day (the 14th) when the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against him. It is reported that a formal letter requesting his appearance was sent to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at the Yongsan Presidential Office, as well as by mail. The documents were delivered without issue.

On the 12th, the day after the prosecution's summons, President Yoon issued a statement directly, expressing the position that "the president's authority to declare martial law is not subject to judicial review." This is interpreted as his refusal to comply with the prosecution's summons.

The prosecution plans to issue a second summons to President Yoon as early as the 16th. If President Yoon continues to refuse to appear without justifiable reasons, it is expected that an arrest warrant will be issued to forcibly secure his custody.