Hong Jun-pyo "Yoon's Judicial Process After Constitutional Court Ruling... Investigation Driven by Public Opinion Is Retaliation"

"Park Geun-hye Also Faces Criminal Proceedings After Impeachment" Claim
Yoon's Summons on 25th Likely to Be Unsuccessful

Hong Jun-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, argued that the investigation into President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has been booked on charges including insurrection, should proceed only after the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial. On the 24th, Mayor Hong wrote on his Facebook, "During the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, criminal procedures also began after the Constitutional Court's decision," expressing this view.

Mayor Hong continued, "I understand that when the Constitutional Court trial and criminal procedures coexist, the criminal procedures are suspended, and this has been maintained until recently," adding, "Judicial procedures against President Yoon should proceed after the Constitutional Court's decision." He then questioned, "Isn't it a procedural violation for investigative agencies to rush the investigation?"

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo argued that the investigation into President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has been booked on charges including insurrection, should proceed after the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial. On the 24th, Mayor Hong stated in a post on his Facebook, "During the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, criminal proceedings also began after the Constitutional Court's decision." Yonhap News

Mayor Hong also stated, "Now, let's coolly and calmly resolve the situation," and claimed, "Investigations driven by public sentiment and opinion are not investigations but mere retaliation." He added, "We should proceed according to the precedent set by former President Park." This aligns with President Yoon's statement the previous day that "the impeachment trial procedure takes precedence over the investigation."

Earlier, Seok Dong-hyun, a lawyer involved in President Yoon's defense team and impeachment trial representation, told reporters at his office the day before, "Former President Park Geun-hye also underwent the impeachment trial first, and the investigation proceeded after she lost her presidential status," conveying this point. Lawyer Seok argued, "The current president's powers are only temporarily suspended; he is still officially the president," and claimed that it is inappropriate for the sitting president to appear before investigative agencies and undergo suspect questioning.

Attorney Seok Dong-hyun, who participated in the formation of the defense team for President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is under investigation and impeachment trial due to the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident,' is expressing his position in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News

President Yoon also rejected the summons sent by the joint investigation headquarters. On the 20th, the joint investigation headquarters sent a summons to President Yoon's side, requesting him to appear at the Corruption Investigation Office located in the Government Complex Gwacheon on the 25th for questioning. However, the summons sent to the Presidential Office's General Secretary's Office and the Secretariat was marked "recipient unknown," and the summons sent to the presidential residence was "refused." As a result, the scheduled summons on the 25th is likely to be canceled. The joint investigation headquarters is reportedly considering coercive measures such as requesting an arrest warrant.