Detention Center Says "Difficult to Use Physical Force Against Former President"
Speculation Grows Over Possible "In-Prison Investigation"... Uncertain if Yoon Will Cooperate
Possibility Raised of Indictment Without Interrogation
The special prosecutor's team investigating the insurrection has once again issued a detention transfer order for former President Yoon Sukyeol to Seoul Detention Center, but it has not yet been executed. As the team decided to consider various options to enable a face-to-face interrogation instead of issuing another summons, there is growing speculation that they may attempt an "in-prison investigation."
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is heading to Seoul Detention Center after completing the second pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review) held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 9, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
On July 15, the special prosecutor's team announced to the media, "As of 3:30 p.m., the detention transfer order for former President Yoon has not been executed." They added, "The special prosecutor has not yet issued an additional summons to former President Yoon," and stated, "We will thoroughly review various options regarding future attendance, the timing of attendance, and whether to issue another detention transfer order."
Former President Yoon, who was detained on July 10 on charges including abuse of power, has refused to comply with the special prosecutor's summons for questioning, citing health reasons. The special prosecutor's team issued two detention transfer orders to Seoul Detention Center?on July 14 and again on this day?directing that former President Yoon be brought to the interrogation room, but the detention center did not comply. The reason cited was the difficulty of using physical force against a former president.
The special prosecutor's team warned, "We will identify the reason for noncompliance and hold those responsible strictly accountable," but Seoul Detention Center still has not followed the order.
As a result, there is speculation that the special prosecutor's team may attempt an "in-prison investigation" by visiting the detention center directly to question former President Yoon during his detention period.
However, even if the special prosecutor's team conducts an on-site investigation at the detention center, it remains uncertain whether former President Yoon will cooperate. Earlier, in January, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, which detained former President Yoon on charges of leading the insurrection, attempted both forced escort and an on-site investigation at the detention center, but these efforts failed due to former President Yoon's refusal.
Accordingly, it has been confirmed that the special prosecutor's team is also considering the option of indicting former President Yoon without conducting an interrogation. At a briefing on this day, Special Prosecutor Park Jiyoung stated that "it is one of the various options under consideration" when asked about the possibility of indicting former President Yoon immediately without extending the detention period.
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