Is Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Facing Serious Questions Next Week?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Yoon Suk Yeol has been summoned for questioning regarding martial law allegations.
- The questioning could lead to significant political repercussions.
- The investigation underscores the importance of accountability in government.
- Yoon has been in custody since July facing multiple charges.
- Military officials have denied links between drone operations and Yoon's actions.
Seoul, Sep 20 (NationPress) A special counsel team in South Korea has formally summoned former President Yoon Suk Yeol to attend questioning next week regarding accusations linked to his unsuccessful martial law attempt.
The office of special counsel Cho Eun-suk stated that Yoon is expected to report to the Seoul High Prosecutors Office on Wednesday.
Investigators are likely to interrogate Yoon concerning allegations of inciting foreign aggression by issuing a drone order to Pyongyang in October, prior to his brief declaration of martial law in December.
This will mark the first instance where investigators seek to interrogate him regarding the claims of provoking foreign conflict.
Since July, Yoon has been in custody, facing trial on accusations of inciting an insurrection and misusing his authority during the martial law endeavor.
It is uncertain whether Yoon will comply with the summons, as he has previously declined to engage with the special counsel’s investigation and has not participated in his insurrection trial since July.
The special counsel suspects that Yoon directly commanded the Drone Operations Command to send drones to Pyongyang, allegedly to elicit military responses from North Korea and create a justification for imposing martial law.
Former drone command chief Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-dae, ex-Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo, and Lt. Gen. Lee Seung-oh, the JCS operations chief, have already been interrogated regarding these allegations.
These commanders have denied any connection between the drone deployment and Yoon’s martial law, claiming the actions were merely responses to North Korea’s balloon campaigns against the South.
Officials have indicated that the team intends to question former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is currently detained at the Seoul Eastern Detention Centre on insurrection charges.
Yoon’s legal team asserted that the summons was sent via text message to one of Yoon's attorneys involved in a separate case. They further stated that they are occupied with preparations for upcoming court hearings scheduled for next week, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
"The summons investigation must be conducted legally and in accordance with due process through an official written notice. Once we receive the notice, we will evaluate whether to comply with the questioning," Yoon's team remarked in a statement.