Special Prosecutor Begins Summons Investigation of Former President Yoon
Kim Jonghyuk: "Only Far-Right Supporters at the Court Appearance"
"Who Betrayed the People, Han Donghoon or the Pro-Yoon Faction?"
As the Special Prosecutor's formal summons and investigation of former President Yoon Sukyeol for rebellion charges began in earnest, former People Power Party Supreme Council member Kim Jonghyuk criticized, "Where have all the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Sukyeol) figures gone?" Kim, who is considered close to Han Donghoon, stated on his social media on the 29th, "A considerable number of former presidents, including Park Geunhye, Lee Myungbak, Roh Moo-hyun, Chun Doohwan, and Roh Taewoo, have appeared before prosecutors and stood trial, but at those times, lawmakers and presidential office officials known as the president's people were always present." He continued, "Now, however, that is not the case."
Former President Yoon Seokyoul, who was investigated by the Special Prosecutor for Internal Affairs as a suspect, is leaving the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-gu on the 29th. Photo by Yonhap News
Kim further stated, "At the scene of former President Yoon's court appearance, only so-called far-right supporters, whose sentiments are worlds apart from those of the general public, were shouting 'President! Yoon Sukyeol!'" He added, "There are even reports that former President Yoon has expressed his discomfort, saying that 'pro-Yoon figures rarely even answer his calls anymore.'" Kim continued, "Should I list the names of those politicians who used to visit his residence, shout 'Yoon Again' on the asphalt of Gwanghwamun, receive enthusiastic cheers, recite enlightenment orders, and incite far-right rallies, but now feign ignorance and deny ever being pro-Yoon?"
He went on to say, "Among those who surrounded Yoon and benefited by flattering him, even as Han Donghoon and I insisted that such politics should not be conducted and that even a president must be held accountable for illegal emergency martial law, who are the real sycophants and who betrayed the people, given that none of the pro-Yoon figures who once benefited from him have shown up at the courthouse or the scene of his summons now that Yoon Sukyeol has fallen from power?"
On January 15, when the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI) and the police executed the second arrest warrant for then-President Yoon Seokyeol, members of the People Power Party were speaking at the entrance of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Previously, the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, which is investigating the rebellion and treason case related to the 12·3 Emergency Martial Law, conducted a summons investigation of former President Yoon on the 28th. Of the approximately 15 hours that former President Yoon spent at the prosecutor’s office, it is reported that only 5 hours were spent on actual questioning. After completing the summons investigation, the special prosecutor notified Yoon to appear again for questioning at 9 a.m. on the 30th. However, at the request of Yoon’s side to postpone his appearance, the summons was rescheduled for July 1, one day later. In response, Yoon’s side submitted a written request to further reschedule the appearance to a date after July 3.
Meanwhile, the People Power Party continues to remain silent, avoiding any mention of the special prosecutor’s investigation into the rebellion case. This stands in stark contrast to their previous stance, when they fiercely protested the police and High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency investigations before Yoon’s removal from office, issuing statements and heading to the presidential residence. Within and outside the conservative political sphere, former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo commented on Yoon’s appearance before the special prosecutor, saying, "Lee Myungbak and Park Geunhye were both former presidents investigated and punished for corruption during their terms, and former President Yoon is also facing various corruption allegations during his presidency. It is truly shameful and disgraceful."
Kim Hyunjung, floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized on the 29th, "Yoon Sukyeol, who reluctantly appeared for the special prosecutor’s investigation into the rebellion case, once again effectively refused to be questioned by making all sorts of excuses, such as demanding a change of the person in charge," adding, "He has personally proven that only an arrest investigation is the answer."
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