Former President Yoon Suk-yeol Refuses to Cooperate with Special Investigation Team

On June 28, former President Yoon Suk-yeol appeared at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu for questioning by the special investigation team regarding insurrection allegations. However, the team reported that Yoon has been uncooperative since 1:30 PM, leading to a significant disruption in the investigation process. Although he was summoned ten days after the investigation began, actual questioning lasted only about an hour.

During a briefing at 3:15 PM, Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young stated that the morning session had gone smoothly, but after lunch, Yoon's legal team demanded a change of investigators, causing him to refuse to enter the interrogation room. The morning session included questioning by Police Chief Park Chang-hwan regarding allegations of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant. Yoon's legal representatives raised concerns, claiming that Park was involved in illegal detentions. However, Park clarified that the execution of the arrest warrant was under the jurisdiction of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, asserting that Park was not involved.

Park emphasized that the frequent complaints against investigators or judicial police officers do not justify excluding them from their duties, stating that such actions could effectively paralyze the criminal justice process. He also noted that there is no law preventing a former president from being subject to police investigations, equating refusal to acknowledge police authority with undermining the system itself. Park vowed to take firm action against any attempts to obstruct the investigation through false information, indicating that they might consider initiating an investigation into those spreading such misinformation.

The special investigation team began questioning at 10:14 AM, which lasted for about an hour before being interrupted. During this time, Yoon did not exercise his right to remain silent and answered questions posed by Chief Park. Park questioned the notion that a person under investigation could choose their investigator, asserting that no one in the country has that privilege. He added that they are still trying to persuade Yoon to continue the questioning.

If the standoff at the interrogation room persists, the special investigation team may consider Yoon's refusal to appear as noncompliance and will evaluate subsequent actions. When asked if they were considering requesting an arrest warrant, Park stated that they would review actions in accordance with criminal procedure law but could not confirm an arrest warrant request at this time. He reiterated that the investigator currently handling the case would be the one to conclude the investigation, indicating that they would not accept Yoon's request for a change of investigators.