Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor, 'Non-Appearance' Yoon Arrest Warrant Requested... Myung Tae-kyun to be Summoned for Two Days Starting Tomorrow

[Financial News] The Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor team (Min Jung-gi special prosecutor) has requested an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who failed to respond to two summons for investigation.
Oh Jeong-hee, the special prosecutor, announced that an arrest warrant was requested at 2:12 PM on the 30th at the Seoul Central District Court for former President Yoon, who is suspected of violating the Public Official Election Act. The special prosecutor team reported that former President Yoon had not submitted any documents, including the appointment of a lawyer and reasons for non-appearance, by that day.
Former President Yoon did not appear at the special prosecutor team's summons scheduled for 10 AM that day. Previously, the special prosecutor team notified former President Yoon on the 21st to appear for a summons on the 29th, but he did not respond to the summons without explaining the reason to the special prosecutor the previous day.
The special prosecutor team decided to request an arrest warrant, assuming that former President Yoon would not respond to further summons. The Special Prosecutor for Rebellion and Foreign Affairs (Jo Eun-seok special prosecutor) attempted three times to forcibly bring in former President Yoon, but he refused, leading to his trial in custody.
The special prosecutor team seems to be operating under the strategy of not wasting time on forced summons. As the special prosecutor team must continue with investigations into more than 16 allegations, evidence proof, indictment, and trial, time is considered tight. Especially as former President Yoon is identified as the key suspect in the 'Myung Tae-kyun Gate' nomination interference allegations, the special prosecutor team plans to secure the momentum for the investigation by obtaining an arrest warrant, which has stronger legal effect than forced summons. Moon Hong-joo, the special prosecutor, explained the previous day, "Considering the previous situations and if he does not appear tomorrow, there is great concern about non-compliance with the summons."
Former President Yoon's side is expected to protest. It is anticipated that they will submit a doctor's opinion on the day, stating that his health is deteriorating due to near-blindness and diabetes-related mobility issues. They are expected to emphasize that the non-appearance is due to health deterioration, not intentional non-compliance.
The special prosecutor team believes that former President Yoon and his wife received survey results free of charge from Myung Tae-kyun during the 2022 presidential election and exerted influence to nominate former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun in the same year's parliamentary by-election. Previously, the special prosecutor team conducted an intensive summons investigation on the 27th of then People Power Party Nomination Management Committee Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun. 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. The special prosecutor team plans to look into whether former President Yoon intervened in the nomination based on the testimony received from Yoon.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team will conduct a summons investigation on Myung Tae-kyun, one of the key suspects in the 'Myung Tae-kyun Gate', for two days starting on the 31st. Myung did not appear in response to the special prosecutor team's summons request on the 28th but has expressed his intention to attend this investigation. Oh, the special prosecutor, stated, "The two-day summons investigation is scheduled," and "I understand that there is an intention to appear."
The special prosecutor team is expected to focus on questioning Myung about the nomination interference allegations. The special prosecutor team plans to confirm whether Myung provided 81 free survey results to former President Yoon during the 21st presidential election, whether he demanded the nomination of former lawmaker Kim in exchange for the free survey results, whether he demanded proportional representation nomination for former lawmaker Kim to Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform New Party, and whether he gained any undue financial or other benefits from these nomination interference allegations.




theknight@fnnews.com Jeong Kyung-soo Reporter