Yoon Suk Yeol ignores second summons in martial law probe

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has ignored a second summons over his martial law decree, sparking calls for his arrest.

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has ignored a second summons from anti-corruption authorities investigating his controversial martial law decree earlier this month. As of 10 a.m. on Christmas Day, Yoon had not appeared for questioning by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), following his failure to respond to their first summons last week. An agency official stated that the investigation would continue, but a decision on seeking an arrest warrant would require further review.

Yoon had also failed to comply with a separate summons from prosecutors on December 15, who are examining the legality of the martial law declaration. His continued defiance has led to growing criticism, with opposition parties calling for his arrest over fears of evidence tampering.

In a televised address on December 7, just days after the decree, Yoon stated he would face the legal and political consequences of his actions. However, he was impeached by the National Assembly on December 14 for his brief imposition of martial law and now awaits a trial by the Constitutional Court to determine whether his powers will be restored or permanently revoked.

Prosecutors, police, and the CIO have all launched investigations into Yoon and other officials, with charges of insurrection, abuse of power, or other crimes under consideration. Notably, insurrection is one of the few offenses for which a sitting South Korean president does not have immunity. A legal advisor to Yoon has stated that he is prepared to present his defense during the legal proceedings.

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