South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has chosen not to participate in a second day of questioning following his detention in connection with the controversial declaration of martial law issued last December. This decision was made known on Thursday, with Yoon’s legal team attributing it to concerns about his physical health. They further emphasized that Yoon had already communicated his stance during the previous day’s questioning and had no further statements to provide (more details here).
Yoon was detained on Wednesday morning at his presidential palace, an event that was prefaced by a confrontation between investigators and the presidential security detail. The President then underwent a lengthy questioning session exceeding 10 hours with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), during which he reportedly maintained his silence throughout (read more).
The arrest followed a warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court on December 31, 2024, authorizing his detention for a duration of up to 48 hours. Within this window, the investigators are required to either seek an additional warrant for a formal arrest to allow for longer detention or set Yoon free (see the background).
Complicating the proceedings, there had been an obstruction by the Presidential Security Service (PSS) during an initial arrest attempt. This incident resulted in the resignation of the PSS chief and necessitated the reissue of the arrest warrant after an earlier one expired sans execution (learn more).
Yoon’s legal counsel contests the validity of the arrest warrant, citing jurisdictional errors made by the Seoul Western District Court. They are presently awaiting an evaluation by the Seoul Central District Court, expected later on Thursday. The court’s decision will have significant implications on how the case proceeds (find details here).
The martial law in question was declared on December 3 amid intense political unrest, with Yoon alleging collusion between the opposition Democratic Party and North Korean forces. This declaration was promptly nullified by the National Assembly, and an impeachment motion soon followed. The impeachment was predicated on violations of Article 77 of the South Korean Constitution, which restricts martial law implementation to instances of war or similar emergencies (further reading).
South Korea’s Constitutional Court is charged with deciding Yoon’s future, with proceedings already initiated on Tuesday. They have until June 2025 to determine whether Yoon should be definitively removed from office or reinstated, as provided by Article 65 of the constitution (additional information).