The joint investigation headquarters (Joint Investigation Headquarters) investigating the Dec. 3 martial law situation attempted to deliver a subpoena to President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 16th by visiting the presidential office and the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, but it was unsuccessful. The Joint Investigation Headquarters explained that although they couldn't deliver it in person, there would be no issue with the delivery itself as they sent the subpoena to the residence via express mail. The Joint Investigation Headquarters is a cooperative investigative body composed of the Korean National Police Agency, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), and the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters.
Four investigators and other members of the Joint Investigation Headquarters arrived at the presidential office building in Yongsan at around 10:33 a.m. on this day and attempted to deliver the subpoena, but the presidential secretariat refused. The presidential secretariat reportedly rejected the Joint Investigation Headquarters' request, stating they couldn't determine if delivering a subpoena was within their duties while the president's duties are suspended. A Joint Investigation Headquarters member noted that they visited the presidential office first because they believed that while the president's duties were suspended, the position itself wasn't gone, so they thought at least minimal secretarial tasks would be carried out.
After being blocked from delivering in person through the presidential office, the Joint Investigation Headquarters headed to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. They attempted to deliver the subpoena there, but the Presidential Security Service also refused to receive it, citing it was outside their jurisdiction. A Joint Investigation Headquarters member said, "We couldn't deliver it in person as both the presidential office and the residence refused to accept it."
In preparation for such a situation, the Joint Investigation Headquarters sent the subpoena for President Yoon via express mail to the presidential secretariat's general affairs office. A Joint Investigation Headquarters member noted, "Since we also sent it by mail simultaneously, there should ultimately be no issue in delivering the subpoena."
The Joint Investigation Headquarters is planning to notify President Yoon to appear at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) located at the government complex in Gwacheon at 10 a.m. on the 18th. The subpoena, drafted in the name of a CIO prosecutor, specified charges against President Yoon as being the ringleader of a rebellion and obstructing the exercise of rights through abuse of power.