The special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki, investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, is seen leaving the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 7th after failing to arrest former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yonhap News

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's side has strongly protested against the special counsel team's repeated attempts to forcibly bring him in for questioning, labeling it a "public attempt to humiliate him."

In a statement released on the 7th, the former president's legal team argued, "Even if an arrest warrant has been issued for the purpose of questioning, it should not be executed if former President Yoon declares his intention to exercise his right to remain silent," adding, "It cannot be explained by any reason other than public humiliation."

The legal team stated, "The current special counsel teams are conducting one-sided investigations based on predetermined conclusions and are not considering any arguments from former President Yoon's side," and that "consequently, former President Yoon has made it clear that he will exercise his right to remain silent and cannot comply with the investigation."

They further mentioned, "If a suspect refuses to provide testimony, the prosecution can decide whether to indict based on existing evidence and statements," adding, "There is a precedent where former President Moon Jae-in also refused prosecution summons, and the prosecution proceeded with an indictment without questioning him."

The legal team emphasized, "If the special counsel still insists on using physical force to forcibly bring former President Yoon in, they are effectively admitting that the goal is not investigation but humiliation," and "Principles of the Constitution and Criminal Procedure Law, along with standards regarding a suspect's human rights, should not be dismantled just to humiliate one individual."

The special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki, which is investigating allegations concerning the former president's wife, Kim Keon-hee, visited the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, again earlier that day to arrest the former president but failed to do so.

This comes six days after their first attempt to arrest him was thwarted on the 1st.

The special counsel team reportedly exercised physical force during the attempt, but halted the execution of the arrest warrant after accepting on-site advice that there were concerns regarding potential injuries due to the former president's strong resistance.

According to the special counsel team, the first arrest attempt was thwarted because the former president had lain on the floor without wearing his prison uniform, resisting the arrest strongly.

The validity of the arrest warrant issued by the court for the special counsel team expires today.

It appears the special counsel team will now begin reviewing whether to request a new arrest warrant or proceed directly to indicting the former president without an in-person interrogation.

Former President Yoon has been placed under investigation by the Kim Keon-hee special counsel team in connection with allegations of nomination interference involving 'political broker' Myung Tae-kyun. He was arrested on the 10th of last month by the special counsel investigating the insurrection case and is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center.

Yonhap News