Justice South Korea's suspended president fails to appear for summons
South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol has ignored another summons over the temporary declaration of martial law. Investigators had summoned Yoon for Wednesday morning (local time), but the politician refused to appear.
25.12.2024, 05:25
SDA
Last Wednesday, the suspended head of state had already failed to appear at a hearing to which he had been summoned and had also given no explanation for his absence.
Yoon is being investigated by both the South Korean public prosecutor's office and a joint committee of the police, anti-corruption authorities and the Ministry of Defense. This committee is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the controversial declaration of martial law at the beginning of December. The president and some of his closest confidants face life imprisonment or even the death penalty if found guilty. After Yoon's first refusal, the head of the anti-corruption authority, Oh Dong Woon, declared that an arrest warrant against the head of state was also being considered.
Yoon has declared martial law
President Yoon had briefly declared martial law on December 3. He had surprisingly made use of this measure in the face of a budget dispute, thereby startling both the domestic and international public. However, the opposition-dominated parliament exercised its right of veto in a dramatic session, whereupon Yoon lifted martial law again after a few hours. Since then, there have been mass protests against the head of state in South Korea.
On Saturday, the parliament in Seoul voted to impeach the president with the help of votes from Yoon's PP party. Yoon is now officially suspended from office, with Prime Minister Han Duck Soo taking over as President. The impeachment must now be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, which has six months to reach a decision.
