Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the first trial for charges including obstruction of official duties and abuse of power at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on September 26. Yonhap News. 

The special prosecutor's team investigating alleged external pressure and cover-up in the death of Corporal Chae, led by Lee Myung-hyun, summoned former President Yoon Suk Yeol on the 11th and questioned him for approximately 9 hours regarding the allegations.

The special prosecutor's team investigated former President Yoon for approximately 9 hours, from 10:20 AM to 7:30 PM, in his capacity as a suspect on charges of abuse of power and aiding escape of a criminal.

The actual questioning concluded around 5:30 PM, and former President Yoon returned to the Seoul Detention Center after reviewing the written testimony for about two hours.

Bae Bo-yoon, the lawyer for former President Yoon, stated after the questioning that regarding the phone call with former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup on July 31, 2023, "He did not mention anything about punishing the division commander, nor did he issue any specific instructions regarding what aspects of the investigation or punishment were incorrect."

This implies that he fully denied the charges of exerting undue influence on the investigation to protect former Marine Corps Division Commander Im Seong-geun.

He further explained, "He stated that overall, parents who have sent their sons and daughters to the military should not experience such incidents again, and those responsible should be held accountable," adding, "He instructed that the military should investigate the circumstances internally, hold those responsible accountable if found, and take personnel actions where necessary."

Regarding the phone call with former Minister Lee immediately after expressing intense anger during a national security meeting at the presidential office on the morning of July 31, 2023, he added, "(Secretary) Lim Ki-hoon could not provide a proper answer, so he made the call."

The presidential office meeting that day took place at 11:00 AM, and it is known that former President Yoon, at 11:45 AM, called former Minister Lee using the internal extension number '02-800-7070' and berated him.

Lawyer Bae mentioned that during his statement regarding the "intense anger" incident, former President Yoon used examples of accidents and disasters that occurred in companies.

He also stated that former President Yoon said, "The investigation into the accident will be handled by investigative agencies, but it is possible to conduct internal investigations and take personnel actions."

On this day, the special prosecutor's team also asked questions about allegations of lobbying by the Protestant community involving Pastor Kim Jang-hwan (Chairman of Far East Broadcasting) and lobbying allegations stemming from the acquaintance between former Black Pearl Investment CEO Lee Jong-ho and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, but former President Yoon denied all allegations.

A convoy carrying former President Yoon Suk Yeol enters the underground parking lot of the special prosecutor's team office for the deceased Corporal Chae at Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 11th. Yonhap News. Former President Yoon is considered the person at the center of the 'VIP's rage,' which is seen as the starting point of the allegations of undue influence in the investigation of Corporal Chae's death. He is accused of abuse of power for allegedly pressuring to exclude former Division Commander Im from the investigation.

He also faces charges of abuse of power and aiding escape of a criminal for allegedly attempting to help former Minister Lee escape by appointing him as ambassador to Australia when Lee came under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) due to allegations of external pressure.

On this day, the special prosecutor's team completed its entire questionnaire, which exceeded 100 pages, related to the alleged investigative pressure.

However, the special prosecutor's team stated that a second summoning of former President Yoon is necessary to investigate the allegations of former Minister Lee's escape to Australia. The second investigation is reportedly being considered for the 15th of this month, taking into account the trial schedule of the defense team.

This is the first time former President Yoon has appeared before the special prosecutor's team for the Marine Corps case. Among the three special prosecutor teams currently active, this is the second investigation following the special prosecutor's team for sedition and foreign aggression, led by Cho Eun-seok.

During the investigation by the sedition special prosecutor's team on the 15th of last month, former President Yoon refused to provide testimony. However, he did not exercise his right to remain silent during the investigation by the Marine Corps special prosecutor's team today.

Yonhap News