The Yoon detention warrant could not be executed Friday as the former president refused to comply with special counsel investigators. The team arrived at Seoul Detention Center to question Yoon Suk Yeol regarding allegations tied to election meddling and false campaign statements.
Assistant special counsel Moon Hong-ju led the effort. Alongside a prosecutor and investigator, Moon approached Yoon’s cell at the facility in Uiwang, south of Seoul. However, Yoon firmly resisted. Despite attempts to involve prison staff, the team was unable to bring him out.
The special counsel released a statement saying the Yoon detention warrant could not be carried out due to his continued refusal. Investigators intended to transfer Yoon to their office for formal questioning related to the 2022 by-elections. Allegedly, Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, interfered with candidate nominations during that time.
Moreover, Yoon’s legal team provided medical documents to justify his absence. They claimed Yoon suffers from a condition affecting body temperature regulation. According to their statements, his untreated eye ailment could even lead to blindness. The Yoon detention warrant, issued Thursday, remains valid until next week. However, officials confirmed they would not make another attempt Friday.
This marked the second instance of a detention warrant issued for the former president. In January, the Corruption Investigation Office arrested Yoon under a separate warrant related to his attempt to impose martial law. That arrest ended with his unexpected release in March. His current detention stems from additional charges linked to the same insurrection case.
Now, the special counsel team is focusing on election-related misconduct. They believe Yoon and his wife received opinion polls from Myung Tae-kyun, a political fixer. In exchange, they allegedly promised a parliamentary nomination to Kim Young-sun in 2022. Furthermore, Yoon faces accusations of lying during the 2021 presidential primaries. He reportedly misrepresented his wife’s role in a stock manipulation scandal.
The investigation into Kim Keon Hee involves 19 criminal allegations. Even if Yoon complies physically, experts doubt he will fully cooperate during interrogation. For now, the Yoon detention warrant reflects ongoing legal struggles and growing political tension in South Korea.
