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Park Ji-young, deputy special counsel in the sedition investigation, speaks at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office on June 24 regarding the arrest warrant request for former President Yoon Suk Yeol. / Photo by Son Seung-hyun

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s legal team stated on June 24 that he would “actively cooperate with summons requests if proper legal procedures are followed,” following the special counsel’s filing of an arrest warrant against him earlier that day.

In a written statement, Yoon’s attorneys claimed, “He had planned to respond to questioning after scheduling coordination, but the special counsel never once requested his appearance before suddenly seeking an arrest warrant.”

They continued, “The special counsel’s move to request an arrest warrant immediately after its formation is unjust. We make clear that Yoon intends to comply fully with future requests made in accordance with due legal process.”

Special Counsel Cho Eun-seok filed the arrest warrant at 5:50 p.m. with the Seoul Central District Court. The charges include obstruction of special official duties under the Criminal Act, abuse of authority, and instigating abuse of authority under the Presidential Security Act.

Deputy Special Counsel Park Ji-young said during a briefing at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, “All other individuals have complied with the investigation, but former President Yoon is the only one who has not. The special counsel’s investigation period is limited, and given the scope of the case, we will not be dragged along—we will proceed strictly under the Criminal Procedure Act.”

When asked whether an official summons had ever been issued to Yoon, Park said, “He had clearly stated he would not comply, so we did not separately notify him.”

Yoon is accused of ordering the Presidential Security Service to block his arrest and of directing the deletion of confidential phone records involving former military commanders on December 7 last year, four days after declaring martial law.