Seoul: The state anti-corruption agency announced on Tuesday that there are no immediate plans to forcibly bring in President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning prior to his scheduled attendance at his impeachment trial later in the day.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) had initially dispatched investigators to the Seoul Detention Center on Monday. Their aim was to forcibly bring in the detained president after he repeatedly refused to comply with orders for further questioning related to his failed martial law bid. However, the investigators withdrew after a six-hour standoff.
A CIO official informed reporters that upon arriving at the detention center, the investigators engaged with President Yoon's lawyers to discuss the possibility of bringing him in. The lawyers, however, consistently refused to cooperate. "As the impeachment trial's hearing is scheduled for this afternoon and notification has been given of his attendance, bringing him in will be difficult in the morning," the official stated.
Additionally, the official mentioned that a notice was sent to the detention center on Monday, which imposed a ban on all correspondence involving President Yoon due to concerns that he might destroy evidence. The official emphasized, "President Yoon is the sitting president but also a suspect. My understanding is that questioning in writing is not being considered at the moment."