SPOTLIGHT 24/12/17 S. Korea's Yoon 'given until Dec 21 to appear for questioning'

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S. Korea's Yoon 'given until Dec 21 to appear for questioning'

Impeached president faces questioning over his martial law bid as the country grapples with political turmoil

South Korea's Prime Minister and acting President Han Duck-soo (C) speaks during a cabinet meeting at the government complex in Seoul on Dec. 17, 2024. (Photo: AFP)

By AFP, Seoul

Published: December 17, 2024 05:10 AM GMT

Updated: December 17, 2024 05:34 AM GMT

South Korean prosecutors on Dec. 17 told impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol to appear by the weekend for questioning over his failed martial law bid or face possible arrest, the Yonhap news agency said.

Yoon, suspended from office by parliament on Dec. 14, is being investigated over alleged insurrection by both South Korean prosecutors and a joint team of police, defence ministry and anti-corruption investigators.

The president and some of his inner circle face possible life imprisonment, or even the death penalty, if found guilty. He remains under a travel ban.

On Dec. 17, prosecutors warned Yoon to appear for questioning over his martial law bid by Dec. 21 or face a potential arrest warrant, Yonhap said citing the prosecution.

The joint investigation unit also launched a raid on Yoon's security service in an attempt to obtain phone records, the news agency said.

The unit had previously asked that the suspended president appear to answer questions on Dec. 18 but were rebuffed by his office, an official told reporters.

Investigators requested Yoon appear at the office at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) for questioning on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, they said.

But the summons "was returned as 'undelivered'" by the presidential office, they said in a statement.

"The identity of the person who refused to accept it is unknown," they added.

Turmoil

South Korea's Constitutional Court on Dec. 16 began proceedings against Yoon and has around six months to determine whether to uphold his impeachment.

A spokeswoman for the court said judges had pencilled in a preliminary hearing on Dec. 27, which Yoon is not required to attend.

Yoon was removed by South Korea's parliament on Dec. 14 over his short-lived attempt to suspend civilian rule, which plunged the country into its worst political turmoil in years.

Fresh elections must be held within two months if his removal is upheld by the Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving as interim leader in Yoon's stead.

Vast protests against the ousted leader, with smaller rallies supporting him, have rocked the South Korean capital since his short-lived Dec. 3 martial law decree.

Demonstrators in both camps have vowed to keep up the pressure as the Constitutional Court considers Yoon's fate.

On the night of Dec. 16, hundreds of South Koreans held a vigil in central Seoul calling for his formal removal.

"I came here again, hoping that we will never have a president like this again," Kim Chan-suk, 67, said at the rally.

"I am coming out every day to continue the fight until the Constitutional Court makes its ruling," protester Han Myung-hak, 52, said.