Yoon again refuses to appear for special counsel questioning

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, under investigation by the special counsel for the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for his second detention hearing on July 9, 2025. /News1

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol again refused to comply with a second summons for questioning by the special counsel investigating insurrection charges on July 14. His legal team stated, “We already submitted a statement explaining his absence from the previous summons, and there has been no change in circumstances.”

Yoon was arrested on July 10 and is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center. The special counsel initially summoned him for 2 p.m. on July 11, the day after his arrest, but he did not attend, citing health issues. The special counsel then rescheduled the session for 2 p.m. on July 14, but Yoon once again failed to appear.

After Yoon missed the 2 p.m. deadline on July 14, the special counsel sent an official request to the head of the Seoul Detention Center to detain Yoon in the interrogation room at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office building until 3:30 p.m.

Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young said during a briefing that neither Yoon nor his legal team formally informed the special counsel of an intention to skip questioning, but correctional authorities conveyed Yoon’s refusal to appear. She added, “While the right to remain silent is a defendant’s right, a detained suspect’s refusal to appear for questioning is not.”

[Oh Yu-jin]

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