Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Issues 'Arrest Warrant' for Yoon's Non-Appearance... Continued Standoff

[Financial News] Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Team (Min Jung-gi Special Prosecutor) has issued a re-summons and an arrest warrant to former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who did not comply with the summons investigation. While Yoon's side is pointing out health issues and questioning the legitimacy of the special prosecutor, the standoff between the two sides is expected to continue.
Moon Hong-joo, deputy special prosecutor, announced on the 29th that they demanded Yoon, who did not attend the special prosecutor team's summons notice, to reappear on the 30th. He added, "If he does not comply with this either, we are considering forced investigation measures such as requesting an arrest warrant."
Former President Yoon was scheduled to attend the special prosecutor team's summons investigation at 10 a.m. that day, but ultimately did not appear. The special prosecutor team notified Yoon on the 21st to appear as a suspect for violating the Public Official Election Act.
However, Yoon has not yet conveyed any opinion to the special prosecutor team, including appointing a lawyer. Yoon has consecutively missed two summons investigations and trials related to the rebellion special prosecutor due to health reasons.
The special prosecutor team seems to have considered the precedent of requesting an arrest warrant if there is no compliance after the usual 2-3 summons notifications. Moon, the deputy special prosecutor, explained, "Considering the previous situations and if he does not appear tomorrow, we see a high concern for non-compliance with the summons."
The special prosecutor team is showing a stance of not losing the initiative through strong responses. Former President Yoon has refused all three attempts of forced attendance by the Rebellion and Foreign Affairs Special Prosecutor Team (Cho Eun-seok Special Prosecutor) and has not appeared in the rebellion leader trial. Since Yoon's side has also rejected the attendance request from Kim Keon-hee's special prosecutor team, the special prosecutor team is moving to continue the investigation without losing the psychological battle with Yoon. As Yoon is evaluated as a key suspect in the 'Myongtaegyun Gate', a summons investigation of Yoon is inevitable.
However, it is uncertain whether Yoon will appear despite the special prosecutor's warning. Yoon's side continues to emphasize that he has received a medical opinion from his primary doctor about the risk of blindness due to worsening eye disease and mobility issues due to chronic illness. Additionally, they are pointing out that the special prosecutor's investigation is unjust and lacks political neutrality. Yoon's side plans to decide on whether to attend the special prosecutor after internal review.
The special prosecutor team plans to focus on investigating the 'Myongtaegyun Gate' if the summons investigation of Yoon is conducted. The special prosecutor team believes that Yoon and his wife received public opinion poll results for free from Mr. Myongtaegyun during the 2022 presidential election and exerted influence to nominate former National Assembly member Kim Young-sun of the People Power Party in the same year's by-election. The special prosecutor team is expected to question △whether the late Jang Je-won, then chief secretary, instructed the nomination of former member Kim △whether Yoon directly called and instructed the nomination of former member Kim △whether they received such a request from Mr. Myong.
Previously, on the 27th, the special prosecutor team conducted an intensive summons investigation of Yoon Sang-hyun, who was then the nomination management committee chair of the People Power Party. It is known that Yoon testified in the special prosecutor's investigation that he received a call from former President Yoon but did not reflect it in the nomination process.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter