Former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Yonhap News

The first interrogation of former President Yoon Suk-yeol as a suspect by Prosecutor General Min Jung-ki's special prosecution team concluded after eight and a half hours.

Former President Yoon, who is being held at the Seoul Detention Center, arrived at the special prosecution team's office in Gwanghwamun at approximately 9:30 AM on the 20th, traveling by a vehicle from the Ministry of Justice, and entered the premises.

The investigation, which began at 10 AM, was interrupted for lunch around 11:56 AM and resumed at 1 PM, concluding at approximately 5:10 PM.

Following this, former President Yoon reviewed his interrogation transcript from 5:26 PM to 6:30 PM before departing.

It is understood that the special prosecution team completed all 160 pages of questions prepared for the day.

The interrogation covered allegations including, in collusion with First Lady Kim Keon-hee: ▲ receiving public opinion poll services worth 270 million won free of charge from Mr. Myung Tae-gyun before the 2022 presidential election; ▲ receiving a Lee U-hwan painting worth approximately 140 million won in exchange for a nomination promise from former Deputy Prosecutor General Kim Sang-min; and ▲ receiving tens of millions of won worth of jewelry along with requests for public office appointments and benefits from Seo Hee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-gwan, former National Education Committee Chairperson Lee Bae-yong, and robot dog entrepreneur Seo Sung-bin.

Additionally, the investigation also addressed allegations of making false statements during the public debate in late 2021 when he was the People Power Party's presidential candidate, concerning suspicions of First Lady Kim Keon-hee's involvement in stock manipulation at Deutsch Motors and First Lady Kim Keon-hee's false resume allegations.

Throughout the investigation, former President Yoon reportedly largely denied the allegations and focused on explaining the legal reasons why they do not constitute a crime.

Attending the interrogation on behalf of former President Yoon were lawyers Yoo Jeong-hwa, Chae Myung-seong, and Bae Bo-yoon. Video recording was not conducted at the request of former President Yoon's side.

Exiting the investigation, a lawyer for former President Yoon stated, "He actively exercised his right to defense without refusing to testify," and added, "The questions and answers proceeded smoothly."

Given that only 8 days remain in the investigation period, it appears unlikely that the special prosecution team will be able to summon former President Yoon again.

The special prosecution team is expected to focus on sifting through the charges to jointly indict former President Yoon and First Lady Kim, as well as organizing the evidence records and preparing for the transfer of remaining cases.