Questioning lasted about three hours from 9:04 a.m.
Lunch was "Seolleongtang"... Investigation resumed at 1:07 p.m.
Cabinet meeting and treason charges expected to be examined
The special prosecutor team led by Jo Eunseok, which is investigating the rebellion and treason cases related to the 12·3 Martial Law, resumed its afternoon questioning of former President Yoon Seokyeol on the 5th.
Former President Yoon Seokyeol is appearing at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the Special Prosecutor Jo Eunseok's team office is located, on the 5th to undergo the second investigation by the Special Prosecutor for the Rebellion Case. Photo by Yonhap News
In a press release on this day, the special prosecutor's team announced, "We resumed the investigation at 1:07 p.m." Former President Yoon had been questioned for about three hours from 9:04 a.m. The special prosecutor temporarily suspended the investigation at around 12:05 p.m. for lunch. It was reported that former President Yoon had Seolleongtang, which was delivered for lunch, in a nearby break area to the interrogation room.
During the morning session, under the direction of special prosecutor assistants Park Eoksu and Jang Woosung, deputy chief prosecutors Kim Jungguk and Cho Jaechul questioned former President Yoon regarding allegations of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant. Park Changhwan, chief superintendent of the National Police Agency's Major Crimes Investigation Division, who raised issues about former President Yoon participating as an investigator during the first round of questioning on June 28, played a supporting role in the interrogation room. On former President Yoon's side, attorneys Song Jin-ho and Chae Myungseong were present, but since attorneys Bae Boyoon and Kim Hongil also accompanied him, there could be changes in the defense team. The special prosecutor's team stated that the morning questioning regarding the obstruction of the execution of the arrest warrant proceeded smoothly and was completed in its entirety.
In the afternoon session, the investigation is expected to focus on the remaining charges: abuse of power in relation to the Cabinet meeting and treason. The special prosecutor's team plans to verify the circumstances of the Cabinet meetings held before and after the declaration of martial law with former President Yoon. The team suspects that former President Yoon may have called only certain Cabinet members, such as former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin and former Minister of Justice Park Sungjae, to ensure the quorum of 11 required for the Cabinet meeting held just before the martial law declaration.
If it is proven that Cabinet members who did not receive a summons were deprived of their right to deliberate on the declaration of martial law, former President Yoon could be charged with abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights. Previously, the special prosecutor's team summoned and questioned Minister Lee Jooho, Minister Yoo Sangim of Science and ICT, and Minister Ahn Deokgeun of Trade, Industry and Energy, who did not attend the Cabinet meeting, on the 4th.
However, special prosecutor assistant Park made it clear regarding the ongoing consecutive summons of Cabinet members from the Yoon Seokyeol administration that "there is no plan to summon all members." Park explained, "We have requested the attendance only of those Cabinet members for whom it is necessary to verify facts regarding specific matters," adding, "Ministers Lee Jooho, Ahn Deokgeun, and Yoo Sangim, who were previously questioned, were investigated as reference witnesses."
Additionally, the investigation into former President Yoon's treason charges is also scheduled for the afternoon. The core of the treason suspicion is that, in an attempt to secure justification and legitimacy for declaring martial law, there was an effort to provoke an attack from North Korea?such as by sending drones into Pyongyang?in order to trigger war or armed conflict.
Given the broad scope of the investigation into former President Yoon's charges on this day, if former President Yoon agrees, late-night questioning may also take place. During the first round of summons on June 28, former President Yoon was only able to return home after 1 a.m. on the following day, the 29th. Special prosecutor assistant Park stated, "There is an enormous amount of material to cover, and if we cannot complete everything today, we will have to summon him again for further questioning," adding, "We will only know as the investigation proceeds."
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