"Appearance Schedule Subject to Coordination and Consultation"
Special Prosecutor Previously Adjusted Date from June 30 to July 1
Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has once again requested that the schedule for his second summons by the special prosecutor’s team investigating insurrection, originally set for July 1, be postponed to a date after July 3. Previously, the special prosecutor had delayed the summons by one day from the initial notice at the request of Yoon’s side; however, Yoon’s representatives have continued to insist on a further postponement.
On June 30, Yoon’s legal team announced to the media, “We have again requested the special prosecutor to reschedule the date set for July 1 to a date after July 3, and we have also asked that any new appearance date be set in prior consultation with the defense attorneys.”
The legal team stated, “The questioning of the suspect is a voluntary investigation, not a compulsory one, and scheduling the appearance is a matter of ‘coordination,’ not ‘agreement.’ The special prosecutor’s perception that the investigative authority can unilaterally decide the schedule runs counter to the principles of voluntary investigation and the fundamental spirit of the Criminal Procedure Act.”
They added, “A unilateral notice of appearance by the investigative authority does not by itself create an obligation to appear, nor can a failure to appear immediately be regarded as ‘noncompliance.’”
Previously, the special prosecutor had taken a firm stance, stating that if Yoon failed to comply with the summons, they would proceed in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act. On June 29, Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young said in a briefing, “Coordination of the summons schedule is not an agreement. The investigative authority makes the decision. If there is noncompliance without a valid reason, we will have no choice but to proceed with procedures under the Criminal Procedure Act.”
The special prosecutor investigating insurrection had summoned Yoon as a suspect on June 28, and after the initial questioning, requested that he appear again at 9 a.m. on June 30 for further investigation. In response, Yoon cited health issues and the need to secure his right to defense in the insurrection trial, requesting a postponement until after July 3, when the trial is scheduled. The special prosecutor then notified him to appear at 9 a.m. on July 1, one day later than originally planned.
However, as Yoon has not accepted this and has again requested a postponement, it remains uncertain whether he will comply with the second summons.
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