Today, Forced Summons of Yoon Begins... Will It Succeed This Time?

[Financial News] The special prosecutor team of Kim Geon-hee (Min Jung-gi special prosecutor) will attempt to execute an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol at 9 a.m. on the 1st.

Prosecutors and investigators will be sent to Seoul Detention Center to forcibly summon the former president. However, if the former president strongly resists, it is uncertain whether the summons can actually be executed. There is also the possibility of exercising the right to remain silent.

According to the special prosecutor team, Moon Hong-joo, the assistant special prosecutor, will visit the Seoul Detention Center with one prosecutor and one investigator and first recommend voluntary appearance to the former president. Although the former president has previously refused to appear, there may be a change in stance ahead of the forced summons.

However, the possibility of the former president voluntarily responding to the summons remains low. In this case, the special prosecutor team will direct the prison guards in front of the room where the former president is detained to proceed with the forced summons.

The special prosecutor team plans to execute the arrest warrant even if the former president presents 'health reasons'.

Assistant special prosecutor Moon stated, "From our standpoint, we intend to actually summon," adding, "According to what we have confirmed, there are reportedly no major health issues."

The special prosecutor team attempted to summon the former president for questioning on the 29th and 30th, but as the former president did not appear for two consecutive days citing health deterioration, they requested an arrest warrant on the 30th, and the court issued the warrant that morning. The arrest warrant is valid until the 7th of next month.

The former president has been detained at Seoul Detention Center since the 10th on charges related to the special investigation into rebellion. Due to differences in investigation content and charges, the special prosecutor team of Kim Geon-hee must obtain a separate arrest warrant to forcibly summon the former president.

The former president is accused of intervening in the nomination process during the 2022 parliamentary by-election and last year's 22nd parliamentary election.

The special prosecutor team believes that the former president received 81 opinion polls free of charge from Mr. Myung Tae-kyun during his presidential candidacy and intervened in nominating former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun in the same year's by-election as compensation.

Additionally, the special prosecutor team is investigating allegations that the former president and his wife intervened in the nomination of former Deputy Prosecutor Kim Sang-min during last year's general election, as well as suspicions related to the manipulation of Deutsche Motors stock and statements made during the presidential primary debate (allegations of false information under the Public Official Election Act).  

Mr. Myung, who came out to the special prosecutor's office for questioning, told reporters, "I heard a call from Congressman Kwon Seong-dong and Congressman Yoon Han-hong to Congressman Yoon Sang-hyun," adding, "Congressman Yoon showed and let me hear the calls and texts from Congressman Kwon and Congressman Yoon."theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter