What's happened
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has failed to appear for questioning by the Corruption Investigation Office regarding allegations of abuse of power and orchestrating a rebellion. This marks the second time he has ignored a summons following his impeachment on December 14, 2024, amid ongoing investigations into his martial law declaration.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Yoon's failure to appear for questioning has prompted calls for his arrest, with critics citing concerns over potential evidence tampering. The South China Morning Post highlights the involvement of military officials in the martial law declaration, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Meanwhile, Nikkei Asia notes that the Corruption Investigation Office is still deliberating on the next steps regarding Yoon's case, indicating a complex legal landscape ahead.
How we got here
Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3, 2024, leading to political turmoil and his subsequent impeachment by the National Assembly on December 14. Investigations into his actions have intensified, with multiple officials arrested for their roles in the martial law decree.
More on these topics
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South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.
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Han Duck-soo is a South Korean politician who served as the 34th Prime Minister of South Korea, from 2007 until February 2008, and as the ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013.
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.