Yoon defies second summons in Kim Keon-hee probe, arrest warrant likely

Jul 30, 2025, 01:41 pm

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Former President Yoon Suk-yeol enters the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District on July 9 for a pre-trial detention hearing. / Source: Joint Press Corps

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has refused to comply with a second summons by the special counsel team investigating allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon-hee, raising the prospect of an arrest warrant being issued.

The special counsel’s office stated on July 30 that Yoon failed to appear at 10 a.m. as requested, without providing an explanation. This came a day after he also ignored a previous summons to the team’s office in Seoul's Gwanghwamun district.

"We warned that failure to comply with this second summons could lead to compulsory measures such as requesting an arrest warrant," the special counsel said.

Yoon’s representatives claim his health has severely deteriorated due to diabetes and liver issues, and that his doctor recently warned of potential vision loss.

Yoon and his wife are accused of receiving free polling services from political broker Myung Tae-gyun during the 2023 presidential race in exchange for securing a nomination for former lawmaker Kim Young-sun in a by-election.

The special counsel has also summoned Kim Keon-hee to appear on August 6.

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