President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is accused of leading a rebellion related to the 'Dec. 3 emergency martial law,' did not appear for a scheduled investigation on the 25th by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The CIO noted that it was "a step too far" to apply for an arrest warrant for President Yoon, stating, "There is still much to review."
This is the second time President Yoon did not appear at the CIO. Previously, the Coordinated Investigation Headquarters (CIC), involving the CIO, National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters, and the Ministry of National Defense’s Investigation Headquarters, requested his appearance on the 18th, but President Yoon did not show. The CIC again requested his appearance on this day, but it was unsuccessful.
The CIO is taking the position of waiting a bit longer for President Yoon's appearance. Regarding the third summons and the consideration of an arrest warrant, the CIO stated that "there are many factors to consider." Suk Dong-hyeon, a lawyer for President Yoon, noted a day earlier that "the impeachment trial procedure at the Constitutional Court should take precedence over the investigation."
Meanwhile, the CIO plans to hand over Moon Sang-ho, the former intelligence commander, to the military prosecution belonging to the Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law under the prosecution (led by Deputy Minister Park Se-hyun) as early as this day. Former Commander Moon is accused of discussing martial law with former intelligence commander Noh Sang-won, among others, at a hamburger shop in Ansan, Gyeonggi, on the 1st.