▲ President Yoon Suk Yeol (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) Yoon-martial law probe

(2nd LD) Yoon snubs 3rd summons for questioning in martial law investigation

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SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday refused for a third time to appear for questioning in the investigation into his botched martial law imposition, raising the likelihood that the investigative body will file a court warrant for his arrest.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) handling the case said Yoon had not turned up at its office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, at 10 a.m. as requested by the CIO.

This marks the third summons that Yoon has snubbed. Yoon ignored two previous summonses for questioning on Dec. 18 and Christmas Day.

With Yoon's repeated refusal, the CIO is widely expected to seek a court warrant to arrest the president. Three summonses are typically considered the maximum before an investigative agency seeks an arrest warrant against a suspect.

If the CIO seeks a court warrant to arrest Yoon, it would be an unprecedented move against a sitting president in South Korea.

An official with the CIO said Sunday the office had not yet determined whether to issue a fourth summons or to seek a warrant to arrest Yoon. That decision could be made as early as Monday.

Yoon's legal representatives said the CIO does not have the authority to investigate insurrection charges against Yoon, nor does it have the right to apply for a court warrant to arrest him.

"A lot of problems must be addressed first, including the CIO not having the authority to investigate insurrection charges, before we can determine whether he will appear for questioning," said Yun Gap-geun, one of the president's lawyers. "It's not that we're snubbing the summons. These issues have to be resolved first."

On Dec. 7, four days after his failed martial law bid, Yoon said in a public address that he would not avoid legal and political responsibility for his botched imposition of martial law.

Still, it remains to be seen whether a court would issue a warrant to arrest Yoon.

CIO chief Oh Dong-woon has said the agency would send an official document to warn the presidential office if the presidential security service obstructs a proceeding to arrest Yoon.

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