Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared before a special prosecutor on Saturday amid an intensifying investigation into his controversial attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. Yoon’s summons followed threats of another arrest after he previously defied requests to cooperate with the probe.
Yoon, who led the country from 2022 until his impeachment and removal in April 2025, has maintained his innocence. His legal team condemned the investigation as politically driven, calling it “distorted and false,” and criticized the public nature of the summons as an infringement on his rights. Despite their objections, they confirmed Yoon’s intention to cooperate and tell the truth.
The scandal stems from Yoon’s alleged attempt to declare martial law on December 3, a move that stunned a nation that has long since moved beyond its military dictatorship era of the 1980s. The Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment following a parliamentary vote, leading to his ousting from office.
Yoon had previously been arrested in January after resisting a court-ordered detention but was released after 52 days due to legal procedural issues. Earlier this week, a judge denied a renewed arrest warrant, citing Yoon’s recent willingness to comply with investigators.
The investigation is being handled by a special prosecutor appointed in June, backed by a team of over 200 prosecutors and investigators. Yoon, once a top prosecutor himself, is also standing trial for the martial law incident separately.
His appearance at the Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office on June 28 was met with intense media attention, but Yoon remained silent as he entered the building.
The case has reignited concerns about political stability and democratic integrity in South Korea ahead of upcoming elections.