Yoon Voluntarily Appears Before Special Prosecutor Over Foreign Exchange Allegations... Kim Gunhee Attends Second Trial

Yoon Appears After News of Arrest Warrant Issuance
Kim Attends Second Hearing in Mask and Black Suit
Special Prosecutor Fails to Secure Park Sungjae's Custody, Investigation Faces Setbacks

The Special Prosecutor's Office for Insurrection (Special Prosecutor Cho Eunsuk) summoned and questioned former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is at the center of the foreign exchange allegations, including the "deployment of drones to Pyongyang." This was the first time former President Yoon responded to the special prosecutor's summons since his arrest.

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol is attending the first trial on charges of "obstruction of special official duties and abuse of authority to interfere with the exercise of rights" at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on September 26, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

At around 8:30 a.m. that day, former President Yoon appeared at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the special prosecutor's team is based, to be questioned as a suspect regarding the foreign exchange charges. Initially, the special prosecutor's team had planned to visit the Seoul Detention Center and forcibly bring in former President Yoon, but after he expressed his intention to appear voluntarily, there was reportedly no physical confrontation. Yoon's side stated, "This decision was made to lessen the burden on the detention center staff."

The special prosecutor's team requested an arrest warrant for former President Yoon on foreign exchange charges on September 30, and the warrant was issued on October 1. The following day, October 2, the team directed the execution of the warrant at the detention center. The arrest warrant for former President Yoon is valid until October 17.

Special Prosecutor Park Jiyoung said, "When the correctional officer informed him of the issuance and execution plan of the arrest warrant, former President Yoon expressed his intention to appear," adding, "If he requests to return to the detention center during the investigation, the arrest warrant will be re-executed at any time." The special prosecutor's team plans to intensively question former President Yoon about the foreign exchange allegations, including the "deployment of drones to Pyongyang."

First Lady Kim Gunhee also appeared at the second trial held that morning at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 27 (Presiding Judge Woo Inseong) on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act, and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery for mediation). Kim entered the courtroom wearing the same black suit, mask, and glasses as at the first trial and sat in the defendant's seat. Unlike the previous trial, there was no broadcast of the proceedings, as the special prosecutor's team for Kim Gunhee (Special Prosecutor Min Junggi) did not request it.

At this trial, witnesses were questioned regarding individuals involved in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation allegations and Kang Hyekyung, the informant in the "Myung Taegyun nomination interference" case.

The first trial of Kim Gunhee, who was arrested and indicted on charges of stock manipulation related to Deutsch Motors and allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church, was held on the afternoon of the 24th. Kim is entering the courtroom. September 25, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor's team for insurrection failed to secure the custody of former Justice Minister Park Sungjae, who is accused of "participating in insurrection." Presiding Judge Park Jungho of the Seoul Central District Court, who oversees warrants, dismissed the warrant requested by the special prosecutor's team, stating, "There is insufficient evidence to support the necessity of detention or concerns about flight or destruction of evidence."

As the special prosecutor's team failed to secure the custody of both former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo and former Minister Park, whom they believe participated in the insurrection, the related investigation is expected to face unavoidable delays.

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