SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) — South Korea’s corruption investigative body said Monday that impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol defied its second request to appear for questioning over his martial law imposition.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said in a short notice that both the presidential office and residence had yet to receive the second request by mail and e-mail to appear on Dec. 25 for questioning, which was sent on Dec. 20.
Yoon reportedly had yet to submit documents for the appointment of his defense counsel.
The joint investigation unit, composed of the CIO, the police and the defense ministry’s investigation headquarters, will allegedly review whether to send the third request for questioning or seek an arrest warrant.
Yoon said in a televised address on Dec. 12 that he would not avoid his legal and political responsibility for the martial law that was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3 but was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
The impeachment motion against Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on Dec. 14 and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power will be suspended.