Professor Morse Tan [Yonhap News file photo]

Morse Tan (Korean name: Dan Hyun-myung), a professor at Liberty University in the United States who is accused of defaming President Lee Jae-myung, failed to appear for questioning as a suspect on the 24th.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Cyber Investigation Division had summoned Professor Tan to the Seoul Police headquarters in Jongno-gu at 10 a.m. that day, but he did not appear.

Professor Tan's legal team released a statement to the media at approximately 10:20 a.m., announcing that they were filing a request to reschedule the appearance date.

In the request, the legal team stated, "Because your agency violated the personal information protection measures you personally promised to uphold just 20 minutes before the scheduled time, we have no choice but to request a rescheduling of the appearance date."

The legal team emphasized, "The responsibility for the failure to implement the personal information protection measures as promised lies with your agency."

It is understood that Professor Tan had previously expressed his desire to the police that his arrival for questioning should not be exposed to the media.

However, the scene was crowded with not only reporters but also Professor Tan's supporters and progressive civic groups calling for his arrest and detention.

A police official told Yonhap News, "We plan to reschedule the future investigation timeline with Professor Tan's legal team."

Professor Tan is scheduled to hold a press conference at 8 p.m. today near Gates 2-3 of the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, where a 'ballot counting station blockade protest' has been ongoing for 20 days, to state his position.

Morse Tan visiting an early voting station [Yonhap News file photo]

Professor Tan, who served as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice during the first Trump administration in the U.S., has been alleging electoral fraud in South Korea and defending former President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law.

He is accused of making false statements, such as claiming during a press conference in the U.S. last year that President Lee was involved in a murder case as a youth and was incarcerated in a juvenile detention center.

Professor Tan arrived in Korea on the 28th of last month ahead of the June 3 local elections. As he failed to comply with police summons during his stay, he is currently subject to a travel ban until the 30th.

Earlier that day, the 'Arrest Morse Tan Group,' composed of progressive figures, held a press conference in front of the Seoul Police headquarters, calling for his emergency arrest on the grounds that he might flee the country and continue spreading claims of electoral fraud if he were allowed to leave.

They plan to hold another press conference in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon to demand a stronger government response.