January 20, 2025
SEOUL – Suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, placed under formal arrest early Sunday on charges of leading an insurrection and committing abuse of power, was slapped with a visitor ban Sunday and once again refused to be questioned by investigators on Monday.
Yoon’s legal representatives said “it will be difficult” for him to comply with the interrogation of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, initially slated for 10 a.m. The arrested leader has been refusing questioning since he was taken into custody last Wednesday, staying silent during the 10-hour investigation that took place on the day he was taken into custody.
The Seoul Western District Court on Sunday issued another arrest warrant that will allow authorities to detain Yoon for the remainder of his legal proceedings. Investigators have the right to hold him in custody for up to a total of 20 days from being first arrested on Jan. 15 until the prosecution indicts him. His detention period could then be extended for up to six months until the court handling his criminal investigation reaches a verdict.
The CIO on Sunday banned Yoon from having visits from anyone other than his lawyers, which officials said was a move to prevent the possible destruction of evidence. The risk of Yoon destroying evidence has been cited by the court as one of the reasons for approving the warrant to arrest him.
With Yoon’s continued silence and refusal to be questioned, which would take place at the CIO headquarters, possible options for the CIO include visiting him where he is currently being held in the Seoul Detention Center or forcibly bringing him to the CIO headquarters for questioning.
The CIO, which has the authority to investigate the president, has agreed to split the 20-day detention period with prosecutors, who have the authority to file charges to indict Yoon.
The prosecution is widely expected to indict the president around Feb. 5, which is when his detention period is currently set to expire.
The expiration date for his detention period and the indictment could be pushed back if Yoon’s lawyers mount a challenge to the arrest warrant in court, just as they did with the initial 48-hour arrest warrant. That challenge was not successful.
If a court review on this particular case occurs, the time spent deliberating that would be added to Yoon’s total detention period, meaning Yoon could be in custody for longer before an indictment occurs.
Yoon is currently being investigated for leading an alleged insurrection, giving what are believed to be illegal orders to his military and police officials after declaring martial law on Dec. 3.
These orders include instructing Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo to forcibly arrest any lawmakers trying to get into the parliament on the night of Dec. 3, telling him, “Break down the door and drag them out, shoot if you have to,” according to the prosecution last month.
They also include sending a team backed up by 100 police officers and 20 escort vehicles to arrest a list of prominent political figures — including the heads of the ruling and main opposition parties and National Assembly speaker — and outspoken opponents.