Impeached South Korean president ignores summons over martial law probe

On December 18, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to appear before the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in defiance of a summons over allegations related to his controversial imposition of martial law earlier this month.

Yoon was summoned by a joint investigation team comprising the CIO, police, and the defence ministry's investigative unit to present himself at the CIO's office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, at 10 a.m. (local time) on December 17, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

However, multiple attempts to deliver the summons were reportedly thwarted, as the presidential office either refused to accept the notice or returned it.

The embattled president faces charges of inciting insurrection after declaring martial law on December 3, a move that has led to his suspension from duty. His impeachment by the National Assembly on December 14 is now pending a trial at the Constitutional Court. The charge of sedition, a key accusation against Yoon, is not shielded by presidential immunity, making him susceptible to arrest while awaiting the court's decision.

CIO chief Oh Dong-woon informed the National Assembly's legislation committee on Tuesday that Yoon's refusal to comply with the summons appeared "deliberate." He added that the agency was weighing legal steps, including pursuing an arrest warrant, which he emphasized was "most in line with lawful procedures." The option of an emergency arrest without a warrant remains under consideration but is being treated as a last resort.

Meanwhile, the CIO is reviewing whether to issue a second summons as part of its investigation. The prosecution, conducting a parallel inquiry, had also summoned Yoon for questioning on December 14, a request the president similarly ignored. A subsequent summons for December 15 was also defied.

On December 17, Yoon's legal team denied the charges of mutiny on behalf of their client but declined to clarify whether he would comply with a separate prosecution summons scheduled for December 21.

President Yoon’s actions have sparked widespread debate and uncertainty in South Korea, where the political and legal ramifications of his declaration of martial law are expected to reverberate for weeks to come. As the Constitutional Court prepares to rule on his impeachment, the likelihood of his arrest is growing, posing a major test for the nation’s judiciary and democratic institutions.

By Khagan Isayev