Yoon Fails to Appear Today... Special Counsel Warns "Final Measures if Absent on 4th or 5th"

Yoon's Side Requests Postponement Until After the 5th Due to Trial
Special Counsel to Reschedule and Notify New Summons Date
Arrest Warrant Considered if He Fails to Comply Again

On July 1, former President Yoon Suk-yeol refused to comply with the second summons from the special counsel team investigating the insurrection case. The special counsel team plans to designate another date within this week and immediately issue a new summons notice. If Yoon again fails to comply, it is expected that an arrest warrant will be requested for him.

Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News Agency

The special counsel team summoned former President Yoon at 9 a.m. on this day for a second round of questioning, but he ultimately did not appear. This is the first time Yoon has failed to comply with a summons from the special counsel team.

Special Counsel Park Ji-young stated at a press briefing on June 30, "If he does not appear on July 1, we will immediately designate a specific date and time within this week and issue another summons notice," adding, "We will be waiting for his appearance."

She also suggested the possibility of considering compulsory measures such as an arrest warrant if Yoon fails to comply with the rescheduled summons. Special Counsel Park warned, "If he does not appear even then, we will take the final measures stipulated by the Criminal Procedure Act," and added, "If there are any actions after his appearance that are deemed to obstruct the investigation and go against the law and social norms, we will also take measures as prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Act."

The next summons is expected to be scheduled for either July 4 or July 5. On July 3, the 9th trial hearing on charges including being the leader of the insurrection against former President Yoon will be held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Guyon).

Previously, the special counsel investigating the insurrection summoned former President 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 requested a postponement until after his insurrection trial scheduled for July 3. The special counsel team delayed the date by one day and notified him to appear at 9 a.m. on July 1.

However, former President Yoon did not accept this and requested another postponement until after July 5. Yoon's legal team stated, "It is impossible for him to appear on July 1, as the special counsel unilaterally decided and notified the date," and explained, "Since witness examinations for the criminal trial on July 3 are expected to last all day, we have submitted a request stating that, due to health reasons, he could appear after resting on July 4, either on July 5 or July 6."