After 5 Hours of Persuasion by the Corruption Investigation Office, Yoon Refuses... Investigation Fails for Three Consecutive Days

Attempts at Face-to-Face Investigation on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd Fail
Three Consecutive Days Without Face-to-Face Investigation Due to Yoon's Refusal

Yonhap News

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Hugo) made a third attempt on the 22nd to forcibly summon President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has not complied with the attendance request, but it failed. On the morning of the 22nd, Hugo Chief Oh Dong-woon pressured President Yoon by stating, "President Yoon's side also needs to respect the judiciary's decision," but it seems to have had no effect. Hugo attempted face-to-face investigations with the president for three consecutive days on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd, but all attempts failed.

Hugo spent about five hours persuading President Yoon's side on the 22nd, but it was reported that President Yoon maintained his position of not being able to comply with either the summons or the on-site investigation. Hugo also sent a cooperation letter the previous day for an on-site investigation at Seoul Detention Center. Accordingly, it was reported that an investigation room was prepared inside the detention center. In the afternoon of the same day, Hugo stated, "Hugo prosecutors and investigators visited Seoul Detention Center to investigate President Yoon, but the suspect's side refused all investigations including the on-site investigation and summons, so the investigation did not take place."

It is understood that President Yoon has been continuously meeting with his lawyers. Yoon Gap-geun, a lawyer for President Yoon, said, "We need to prepare for the Constitutional Court impeachment trial tomorrow (the 23rd), and we told Hugo that we have already conveyed everything we needed to say," adding, "If there are any additional requirements, we will submit a lawyer's opinion."

President Yoon, who was arrested by Hugo on the 15th, refused to testify during the investigation on the same day and did not comply with attendance requests on the 16th and 17th. Even after being detained in the early hours of the 19th, he did not comply with two summonses for 2 p.m. on the same day and 10 a.m. on the 20th. President Yoon's legal team issued a statement in the afternoon, claiming, "Hugo's continuous attempts at forced summons go beyond venting frustration against the president and constitute a serious illegal investigation." Hugo sent a decision letter prohibiting the sending and receiving of letters to President Yoon at the detention center and imposed a ban on visits except by lawyers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.