Delaying tactics? South Korean President Yoon refuses to appear before investigators and accepts documents from the Constitutional Court

President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has been suspended from office after the impeachment bill was passed by the South Korean National Assembly, has refused to appear in court or to receive impeachment papers sent by the Constitutional Court.
Yoon, who declared "emergency martial law" on the 3rd of this month, is suspected of insurrection, and the prosecution will send a request to Yoon to appear by the 21st.
If Yoon does not comply, the investigative authorities are expected to consider requesting an arrest warrant. In addition, following the South Korean National Assembly's passage of an impeachment motion against Yoon on the 14th of this month,
The Constitutional Court will now hear the impeachment case against Yoon, but there are concerns that Yoon's refusal to accept the documents sent to him by the court may affect the progress of the proceedings.
The government has been criticized for using delaying tactics. Yoon declared emergency martial law late on the 3rd. In response, armed martial law soldiers broke the windows and stormed into the National Assembly building.
In a situation reminiscent of the past, many citizens gathered in front of the National Diet, chanting slogans against martial law and surrounding military vehicles, causing chaos.
However, if a majority of members of the National Assembly request the lifting of martial law, the President must comply with this request, and immediately after the declaration, the National Assembly must declare the lifting of the law.
A meeting was held, and all 190 lawmakers in attendance voted in favor of lifting the state of emergency. Yoon lifted it in just six hours. Opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Yoon for "attempting to suspend the constitutional order and seizing permanent power."
The bill to impeach Yoon was submitted to the National Assembly, citing "attempted insurrection to seize power and seize the presidency," among other violations of the Constitution. The bill was passed by 204 votes in favor and 85 against on the 14th.
Yoon's presidential powers have been suspended. Prime Minister Han Deok-soo is currently acting as president. The Constitutional Court will now decide whether Yoon should be impeached, and if so, he will be removed from office within 60 days.
The presidential election will be held in 2019. Immediately after the impeachment bill was passed, Yoon issued a statement saying, "We will pause for a while, but the journey to the future that we have been walking together with the people for the past two and a half years must not stop.
"I will never give up," he said, hinting at his desire to return to his duties. Meanwhile, South Korea's opposition party has accused Yoon, who declared "emergency martial law," of treason. Police and prosecutors are investigating.
Article 87 of the Korean Criminal Code stipulates that if a riot is started with the intent of eliminating state power or upsetting the Constitution, it will be punished as a crime of treason. The maximum penalty is the death penalty. Article 84 of the Korean Constitution states, "The President shall
The law stipulates that "a president shall not be criminally prosecuted while in office, except for crimes of internal treason or foreign treason." Although a sitting president has immunity from arrest, the crime of internal treason is an exception, so Yoon could be arrested and prosecuted.
Yoon faces the risk of impeachment and treason charges, but has so far been uncooperative with the investigation and the impeachment proceedings by the Constitutional Court.
The court said that if the refusal to appear continues, there is a high possibility that the matter will be detained or arrested. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court held a council meeting on the 19th with the attendance of all judges.
At the regular weekly meeting where all members discuss the case, public broadcaster KBS reported that "discussions were apparently held regarding the status of delivery of the impeachment resolution (against Yoon) and related evidentiary documents."
With Yoon refusing to accept these documents, the Constitutional Court has decided to consider the documents as having been served even if the party refuses to accept them as such, or to consider them as having been served at the time of sending them as such.
Meanwhile, Yoon is forming two legal teams to handle the impeachment trial and the treason investigation. Attorney Seok Dong-hyun, who is involved in the formation of the teams, said on the 19th that the two teams will be
In response to interviews by foreign media, Yoon said that he intends to appear in the Constitutional Court for impeachment hearings if necessary. He also said that "President Yoon is taking an upright position" and declared emergency martial law on the 3rd.
Yoon has been criticized for refusing to appear in court, but his side has said that the investigation is being carried out without him appearing in court, through written investigations and by investigators visiting him for questioning.
It appears that they are considering cooperation as an option, and Sok said, "I think the president will do what he needs to do (when the time comes)."