Special Prosecutor Visits Seoul Detention Center, Yoon Refuses to Cooperate
Likely to Indict Without Face-to-Face Interrogation
Physical Force Not Permitted Under Current Law
On August 1, the special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki attempted to execute an arrest warrant against former President Yoon Sukyeol but ultimately failed to bring him into the interrogation room.
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is entering the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 9th to undergo a detention hearing (warrant review). The hearing will be presided over by Chief Judge Nam Sejin (Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 33), who is in charge of warrants. The special prosecutor team visited Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, around 9 a.m. that day and attempted to execute the arrest warrant in person. However, they announced that "due to the subject's strong refusal, the execution could not be completed." Special Prosecutor Assistant Moon Hongju personally visited the solitary cell where the former president was staying and tried to persuade him for about two hours, but ultimately failed to secure his appearance.
Under current law, even if a suspect does not cooperate during the execution of an arrest warrant, physical force cannot be used to bring them out. The special prosecutor team may attempt to execute the warrant again before its expiration on August 7, but realistically, there is a strong expectation that the possibility of re-execution is low.
Even if the former president is eventually brought into the interrogation room, it is highly likely that he will exercise his right to remain silent. Therefore, it appears the investigation will shift toward indicting him without a face-to-face interrogation.
Previously, during the special prosecutor team's attempt to forcibly bring him in for the insurrection case, former President Yoon also maintained a strategy of resistance. At that time, Seoul Detention Center expressed reluctance, stating, "Considering his status as a former president, it is difficult to use physical force." The special prosecutor team did not directly command the scene during that attempt.
The special prosecutor team summoned the former president on July 29 and 30, but he refused to comply with the investigation and did not even submit a notice of attorney appointment. As a result, the special prosecutor team determined that the former president had no intention of appearing and requested an arrest warrant, which was issued by the court on July 31.
As soon as the special prosecutor team expressed its intention to execute the arrest warrant, the former president's side immediately submitted relevant medical certificates, citing "risk of real-name exposure," to the Seoul Detention Center and maintained their refusal to cooperate. On July 31, the former president's side stated, "Due to several underlying health conditions, it is extremely difficult to participate in the investigation and trial."
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