Special Prosecutor for Rebellion: "Yoon Exercises Right to Remain Silent on All Questions"

"Refusing to Answer All Questions, Including Personal Details" ... Also Declines Video-Recorded Interview
Special Prosecutor Plans to Reapply for Arrest Warrant for Former Justice Minister Park Sungjae on Martial Law Allegation

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol attended the first trial on charges of "obstruction of special official duties and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights" held on the 26th of last month at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was summoned by the Special Prosecutor's Office for the Rebellion Case (Special Prosecutor Cho Eunsuk) for questioning on foreign exchange-related charges, is exercising his right to remain silent.

On the 15th, Deputy Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young stated at a briefing, "Former President Yoon is refusing to answer all questions," adding, "He is refusing to provide even his personal details, has declined to participate in a video-recorded interview, so we are conducting a standard investigation. He has requested a break and is currently resting."

On this day, former President Yoon complied with the Special Prosecutor's summons and appeared at the team's office in the morning. The Special Prosecutor's Office had initially planned to proceed with compulsory attendance, but since former President Yoon expressed his intention to appear voluntarily, there was no physical confrontation.

Deputy Special Prosecutor Park stated, "The questioning is ongoing, and although he is refusing to answer, questions continue as he may choose to respond at any time. There is a difference between not conducting an investigation and conducting one where the subject refuses to answer questions."

He continued, "Even if he refuses to testify, the investigation still has value. We have presented the facts and fully guaranteed his right to defense, but his refusal to testify is effectively the same as waiving that right, and it is also relevant to sentencing."

Additionally, the Special Prosecutor's Office expressed that it is "difficult to accept" the court's decision to deny the arrest warrant for former Justice Minister Park Sungjae, who is accused of participating in the declaration of martial law by former President Yoon.

Deputy Special Prosecutor Park said, "While we believe the court's decisions should be respected, it is difficult to accept the denial of the arrest warrant for former Minister Park, given his position as Minister of Justice, his constitutional duties, and the seriousness of the case. The Special Prosecutor's Office will promptly take steps to seek a new judicial review."

The Special Prosecutor's Office disputed most of the reasons the court cited for denying the arrest warrant for former Minister Park. Regarding the court's comment that "there is room for dispute about how the suspect came to recognize the illegality, the specific nature of the illegality recognized by the suspect, and the existence or degree of illegality in the actions objectively taken by the suspect," the Special Prosecutor's Office said, "It is hard to accept." They maintain that there is no room for dispute that former Minister Park was aware of the illegality of the martial law declaration at the time he took objective actions.

Deputy Special Prosecutor Park stated, "The court's reasoning that there is room for dispute regarding the awareness of illegality is so far removed from the objectively established facts that it cannot be accepted."

The Special Prosecutor's Office believes that former Minister Park, who was the first to arrive at the presidential office during the martial law, spent considerable time speaking with former President Yoon and was fully aware of the illegality of the martial law declaration.