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Former President Yoon Suk-yeol arrives at the Seoul Central District Court on June 9 for the sixth hearing on insurrection charges. / Joint Press Corps

Police have issued a third summons to former President Yoon Suk-yeol, requesting his appearance for questioning on June 19 over allegations of obstruction of justice related to a failed arrest operation. The move comes after Yoon ignored two prior summons and amid mounting pressure as a special counsel investigation looms.

The Special Investigation Unit for Martial Law under the National Office of Investigation stated on June 12 that “a face-to-face investigation is essential” and confirmed that the third written summons had been sent, setting the date for a week later.

Yoon previously defied two requests for questioning—on June 5 and again on June 12 at 10 a.m. Police reportedly waited for eight hours before deciding to issue another notice. His lawyer, Yoon Gap-geun, maintains that the attempted execution of the arrest warrant was unlawful and that Yoon will not participate in any investigation, including written inquiries.

If Yoon fails to appear next week, authorities may consider securing his custody. Under standard procedure, suspects who ignore three summonses without justifiable reason may face compulsory measures such as arrest.

Still, with the launch of the special counsel for the insurrection case expected in mid-June, it remains uncertain whether police will exercise that authority. The window for independent police investigation is narrowing, likely to close within ten days once the special counsel team is operational.

The police have recently accelerated their probe, having secured critical evidence such as CCTV footage from Cabinet meetings and encrypted phone servers from the Presidential Security Service.

Some analysts suggest the police’s rapid escalation is a strategic move to preempt the special prosecutor’s control. Once the special counsel is formally established, police investigators will likely be seconded under the special counsel’s command, diminishing their investigative independence.

Yoon is accused of ordering the Presidential Security Service to block the execution of an arrest warrant in January. He is also under suspicion for allegedly directing the deletion of encrypted mobile records belonging to senior military commanders on December 7, just four days after declaring martial law. Those implicated include former Special Warfare Command head Kwak Jong-geun, former Capital Defense Command leader Lee Jin-woo, and former Defense Security Command chief Yeo In-hyung.