Yoon Refuses to Testify Throughout 8.5-Hour Interrogation by Insurrection Special Prosecutor

First Appearance Before Investigative Authorities Since Re-Detention

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol appeared before Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok's team, which is investigating allegations of insurrection and treason related to the 12·3 Martial Law, but refused to answer any questions or make any statements throughout the more than eight-and-a-half-hour interrogation.

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

The special prosecutor's team announced at around 6:51 p.m. on October 15 that "the interrogation of former President Yoon as a suspect has been completed." This was the first time Yoon had appeared before an investigative agency since he was rearrested in July.

Previously, the special prosecutor's team had notified former President Yoon to appear on September 24 and 30 regarding allegations of treason, including the "deployment of drones to Pyongyang," but Yoon did not comply with these requests.

As a result, the special prosecutor's team obtained an arrest warrant and prepared to take Yoon into custody by force, with plans to execute the warrant on the morning of October 15.

However, after learning in advance about the issuance and planned execution of the arrest warrant, former President Yoon expressed his intention to appear voluntarily, so the warrant was not actually executed. Yoon's side explained, "He appeared voluntarily to avoid burdening the correctional officers."

The special prosecutor's team plans to review the results of the interrogation and then decide whether to issue an additional summons.

The interrogation began at around 10:14 a.m. that day. Deputy Prosecutor Park Hyangcheol and Prosecutor Moon Hoseop from the special prosecutor's team conducted the questioning. Attorneys Kim Hongil and Bae Boyoon attended on behalf of Yoon.

The special prosecutor's team suspects that former President Yoon ordered the Drone Operations Command to carry out operations such as deploying drones to Pyongyang in October of last year, in order to provoke North Korea and create justification for declaring martial law.

It is reported that during the interrogation, the special prosecutor's team questioned Yoon in detail about his instructions and decision-making process regarding the planning, preparation, and execution stages of the drone deployment operation.

However, it was confirmed that former President Yoon exercised his right to remain silent and did not answer any of the special prosecutor's questions. The interrogation concluded at around 6:50 p.m., after which Yoon returned to the Seoul Detention Center.