Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has made no attempt to communicate with prosecutors or comply with a summons from the special counsel investigating his alleged abuse of power, a senior prosecutor said on July 15, raising the possibility of indictment without further questioning.
At a briefing, Park Ji-young, deputy counsel in the investigation team, said, “Neither former President Yoon nor his legal representatives have submitted any written or verbal response to the special counsel’s initial detention transfer order.” Prosecutors now consider Yoon to be “effectively rejecting the investigation,” she added.
The special counsel had issued a written directive on July 14 instructing the warden of Seoul Detention Center to present Yoon for questioning by 2 p.m. the next day. The order was not executed.
Park criticized the failure to comply. “Even if the suspect refuses to testify, the investigation must proceed,” she said. “We have launched an internal inquiry into why the order was not enforced and will hold responsible officials accountable if this continues.”
Asked whether prosecutors might proceed with an indictment without further questioning, Park said the option is under review. “We are considering that possibility,” she said.
