The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials attempted to deliver a subpoena to President Yoon Suk-yeol regarding the Dec. 12 martial law investigation, but the president's side refused to accept it, resulting in failure. The office plans to take appropriate legal steps.
Minister Oh Dong-woon appeared before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 17th and responded to Chairperson Jeong Cheong-rae's inquiry about immediately arresting President Yoon, saying, "We have issued a summons and, concerning the refusal to accept it, we will take the next appropriate legal steps."
Chairperson Jeong said that a warrant for arrest could be requested not only when President Yoon fails to comply with a subpoena but also if there is a concern of noncompliance. Minister Oh replied, "It is in the law," adding, "We are observing the situation closely, where summons to appear are being refused."
Earlier, the Joint Investigation Headquarters (JIH), composed of the Corruption Investigation Office, Korean National Police Agency, and Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, attempted to deliver a subpoena to President Yoon a day prior, requesting appearance at the office at 10 a.m. on the 18th to be investigated on charges of conspiracy.
The Corruption Investigation Office also attempted to deliver the subpoena in person to both the Presidential Office and the Hannam-dong residence the previous day, but the Presidential Secretariat and the security office refused to accept it.
The Corruption Investigation Office also sent the subpoena via registered mail. The mail sent to the presidential secretariat was marked "addressee unknown," and the subpoena sent to the residence was marked "refusal to accept," ultimately leading to nondelivery.
A Korea Post official explained that the subpoena addressed to the presidential office could not be delivered as it was marked "addressee unknown" because the office only included the department name without specifying the recipient. The Corruption Investigation Office had only written "presidential secretariat" on the envelope without naming a specific recipient.
Regarding the registered mail sent to the presidential residence, the official said, "There is a specified recipient at the delivery address, but if the recipient refuses to receive the mail, it is marked as 'refusal to accept' and not delivered." The official added, "Undelivered mail from the presidential office and residence will be returned to the sender on the 18th."