Yoon refuses to attend first investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office after arrest... "Is there any more evidence to come?"

Consideration of Forced Escort and Detention Center Investigation
Legal Team's Statement: "Absurd Arrest Warrant Issued"

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit requested President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was detained on the 19th, to appear for questioning at 2 p.m. on the same day, but President Yoon decided not to comply.

Yoon's lawyer, Yoon Gap-geun, stated that day, "President Yoon will not appear at 2 p.m."

President Yoon, who is being held at Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, made this decision after meeting with his legal team. His lawyers are expected to soon notify the Investigation Unit of his refusal to cooperate with the investigation.

Earlier, the Investigation Unit had notified President Yoon to appear at 2 p.m. that day for questioning. If President Yoon continues to refuse the investigation, measures such as forced detention (forced escort) or conducting the investigation at the detention center are also being considered.

Yonhap News

Chief Judge Cha Eun-kyung of the Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant around 2:50 a.m. that day, citing "concerns about evidence destruction," after conducting a pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review) for President Yoon, who is accused of leading a rebellion and obstructing the exercise of official duties.

On the same day, President Yoon's legal team strongly opposed the issuance of the arrest warrant through a statement, calling it "an absurd arrest warrant." The legal team criticized the court for citing "concerns about evidence destruction" as the reason for issuing the warrant, saying, "What further evidence could possibly come out from the mere six hours of martial law that was broadcast live from the start?" They added, "The Investigation Unit itself admitted when requesting the warrant that 'a substantial (reasonable) amount of evidence supporting suspicion of the crime has been secured.'"

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