Insurrection Special Prosecutor Considers Compulsory Escort for Nonappearance
Kim Keonhee Special Prosecutor Raids Ministry of Land and Others Over Yangpyeong Development Allegations
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is heading to Seoul Detention Center after completing the second pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) held at Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 9, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok notified former President Yoon Sukyeol, who was re-arrested in connection with the 12·3 Martial Law incident, to appear for questioning at 2 p.m. on July 14. Former President Yoon, who was detained in the early morning of July 10, failed to appear at the trial for the insurrection case that same morning and also did not comply with the special prosecutor's summons on July 11. The special prosecutor team is considering the option of compulsory escort if Yoon does not comply with this latest summons.
Former President Yoon cited "health reasons" for his refusal to comply with the summons. However, the special prosecutor team stated that they had received an opinion from Seoul Detention Center, where Yoon is being held, indicating that there are no health issues, and therefore argued that there is no justification for his refusal to be questioned.
On the morning of July 14, Yoon's attorneys visited Seoul Detention Center to check on his health condition and said they would inform the special prosecutor team whether he would appear. If Yoon submits another written statement explaining his absence, the special prosecutor team will review the validity of the reason before deciding whether to seek a compulsory escort.
The special prosecutor team may also choose to conduct the questioning by visiting the detention center instead of bringing Yoon in by force. However, even if the team conducts an on-site investigation, if Yoon refuses to cooperate, it will be difficult to carry out the questioning effectively. In 2018, former President Lee Myungbak, who was detained on charges including bribery, refused both summons and on-site questioning, and at that time, prosecutors proceeded to trial without further investigation.
The investigation is increasingly turning against former President Yoon. Former key aides, such as Kang Uigu, former Presidential Secretary, and Kim Taehyo, former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, have reportedly reversed their previous positions in investigations by the insurrection special prosecutor and the Chae Sangbyeong special prosecutor, and are now giving statements unfavorable to Yoon.
Meanwhile, on the morning of July 14, the special prosecutor team led by Kim Keonhee conducted searches and seizures at more than 10 locations, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related service companies, in connection with allegations of preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development. Kim Seonkyo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, and former Land Minister Won Heeryong were not among those targeted by the search. The Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team is investigating allegations that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport changed the terminus of a highway route from Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, to Gangsang-myeon, in order to increase the value of land owned by Kim.
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