The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) requested President Yoon Seok-yeol to appear by 10 a.m. on the 29th, but it appears he will not comply. If he does not respond to this third summons, forced detention is expected to be inevitable.
According to the legal community on the 29th, President Yoon's side has shown no response to the HCIA's third summons and has not submitted a power of attorney for legal representation. President Yoon's camp holds the position that the Constitutional Court impeachment trial should precede the investigation, and particularly argues that the HCIA does not have the authority to investigate 'treason.' Yoon Gap-geun, the lawyer representing President Yoon in the impeachment trial, told reporters after the first preparatory hearing on the 27th, "There are questions about whether the HCIA actually has investigative authority, and we will decide after a comprehensive review" regarding whether to appear before the HCIA.
If President Yoon's investigation fails on that day, the HCIA is expected to request an arrest warrant and proceed with forced detention.
In this regard, the HCIA is reported to have received investigation materials, including the suspect interrogation records of former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, which will be key to clarifying the charges against President Yoon, from the prosecution. The prosecution had previously transferred the case involving President Yoon's alleged treason and abuse of power to the HCIA, initially handing over the complaint documents, and on the 27th, after indicting former Minister Kim, additionally delivered related materials.
The HCIA plans to continue the investigation into President Yoon based on former Minister Kim's statements to the prosecution.
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