Special Prosecutor: “Investigation into Yoon is Necessary… He Should Voluntarily Appear for Questioning”
Former President Yoon Seok-yeol appeared at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, Seoul, on the 26th for the first hearing of a case involving charges such as obstruction of special governmental duties and abuse of authority. The special prosecuting team led by Special Prosecutor Lee Myeong-hyun, which is investigating allegations of external pressure and cover-up in the Chaesang-byeong incident, is planning to summon former President Yoon for questioning as a suspect on the 23rd.
This development marks the first time in 113 days since the launch of the special prosecution team that former President Yoon will be directly questioned in relation to these allegations.
During a regular briefing on the morning of the 13th, Special Prosecutor Chung Min-young announced, “The special prosecutors’ office plans to send a summons to former President Yoon today, requesting his appearance at the special prosecutor’s office at 10 a.m. on the 23rd for questioning.”
Special Prosecutor Chung emphasized, “Former President Yoon has not complied with previous special prosecutor demands and court appearances as he is detained on charges related to insurrection. However, due to the necessity of investigating him, we hope he will voluntarily appear for questioning.”
Yoon is suspected of abuse of authority and harboring a criminal. He is considered the subject of the so-called investigation pressure allegations originating from the “VIP outrage,” in which he allegedly instructed the President’s Office and the Ministry of National Defense to exclude former Marine Corps General Lim Seong-geun from suspects.
Regarding this, Special Prosecutor Chung stated, “We have confirmed that former President Yoon strongly reprimanded and expressed anger upon receiving a report related to Chaesang-byeong during a senior secretary meeting on July 31, 2023. We have also confirmed a series of orders, such as postponing the transfer of case records and retrieving records, which can be seen as investigative pressure.”
There are also allegations that former President Yoon helped Lee Jong-seop, the former Minister of National Defense, who was under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in connection with the Chaesang-byeong incident, to escape by appointing him as ambassador to Australia.