National Assembly Special Committee on State Affairs issues summons to Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Yong-hyun... Ruling Party calls it "public shaming"

President Yoon Absent Again from Fourth Hearing
Ruling Party Protests: "He Is Effectively in Custody... This Is Just to Humiliate"

On the 21st, at the plenary meeting of the "Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Alleged Rebellion Charges through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration" held at the National Assembly, Chairman Ahn Kyu-baek is handing a summons for non-appearing witnesses against President Yoon Seok-yeol and others to an officer. Photo by Yonhap News

The National Assembly's 'Special Committee on the National Investigation into the Alleged Insurrection Charges through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration (National Investigation Special Committee)' issued accompaniment orders for President Yoon Seok-yeol, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, and four others on the 21st.

The Special Committee approved the issuance of accompaniment orders for six witnesses, including President Yoon, who were absent from the 4th hearing held at the National Assembly that day. The motion passed with 10 votes in favor and 7 against out of 17 members present.

Although the ruling party, the People Power Party, opposed the motion, it was passed due to the numerical majority of the Democratic Party of Korea.

President Yoon and former Minister Kim, among others, were selected as witnesses for the previous 1st to 3rd hearings but all were absent.

The Special Committee also issued accompaniment orders for former Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, former Intelligence Commanders Moon Sang-ho and Noh Sang-won, and Army 2nd Armored Brigade Commander Gu Sam-hoe, who were selected as witnesses but did not attend.

The People Power Party expressed opposition, calling it "virtually an act of humiliation."

Park Jun-tae, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, "The president is effectively being held in custody," and added, "Calling him as a witness is already an unreasonable demand, but saying that we will enforce accompaniment orders every time we hold a meeting is just to humiliate."