Detained South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to attend a second day of questioning by investigators on Thursday, further stalling the criminal investigation into whether he committed insurrection with his martial law bid.
Yoon on Wednesday became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested and was taken to the Seoul Detention Centre after refusing to cooperate with the authorities.
As of Thursday, he is still in the centre with his lawyer citing his health as a factor.
Authorities have up till 48 hours to question the suspended president, after which they must release him or seek a warrant to remand him for up to 20 days.
Yoon’s refusal to cooperate with investigators comes as the Constitutional Court held a second hearing in his impeachment trial to determine whether to remove him permanently or restore his presidential powers.
South Korea is currently grappling with its worst political crisis seen in decades, precipitated by Yoon’s brief attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3, which was voted down by parliament.
In opening arguments at the Constitutional Court, an opposition Democratic Party lawmaker condemned Yoon for “the Dec. 3 insurrection” and said Yoon and a small number of supporters had sought to fan the proverbial flames of chaos by refusing to accept his arrest warrant.
“This impeachment trial decides whether or not to bring someone like this back to the position of commander-in-chief in control of the military,” said Jung Chung-rae, who heads parliament’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
In response, one of Yoon’s defense team said his impeachment was not intended to defend the constitution but for the opposition “to use the majority power of parliament to usurp the position of the president.”
