South Korea probe team issues Christmas Day summons for Yoon / Photo: © AFP
-
Cyberattack ruled out in UK air traffic glitch as more flights axed
-
RavenDB Launches Quill to Bring Production AI Agents to Enterprise SQL Systems, No Migration Required
-
Ekiden Launches Canton Network’s First Order Book-Based Derivatives Exchange
-
Affleck family affair at Venice for Casey's latest film 'Company'
-
Germany's Merz accuses AfD of promoting 'ethnic cleansing'
-
Yemen rebels report fresh Saudi strikes as conflict deepens
-
Japanese director Kore-eda's manga film charms critics in Venice
-
'They're playing with our lives': AI researcher quits Anthropic
-
As African space race heats up, Senegal pursues homemade satellites
-
Series finale of 'Babylon Berlin' offers dark mirror for today's Germany
-
UK's little-known Bayeux Tapestry replica steps into spotlight
-
Zara owner Inditex boosts profits as sales grow across board
-
Shelton stuns Alcaraz in 3:34 am US Open finish, Sabalenka battles on
-
Alcaraz out in latest US Open finish, Sabalenka through on marathon day
-
Alcaraz falls to Shelton in epic latest-ever US Open finish
-
Brent breaks $100 on Mideast flare-up, fanning inflation fears
-
Tradition Announces Partnership With Affin Moneybrokers to Support Malaysian Market Data
-
South Korea video game tycoon to pay record $1.5 bn in divorce
-
Protesters urge South Korea to stay out of Iran war
-
'Long live Chairman Mao': Supporters pay respects to founder of Communist China
-
Africa's informal economy: a burden and lifeline
-
Sweden immigration restrictions spark healthcare concerns
-
Kenyan start-up makes robotic limbs to sign for deaf kids
-
EU to help cities tighten screws on Airbnb, holiday rentals
-
Iran, US trade blows as Hormuz impasse deepens
-
'Our year': Kane and Bayern primed for Champions League tilt
-
The round-the-clock monitors protecting Bhutan from glacier risk
-
Australian World Cup star Volpato fined over positive cocaine test
-
'Hell': Father of surfers killed in Mexico testifies at trial
-
Sabalenka edges Noskova to keep US Open treble bid alive
-
Travellers in UK face more chaos after air traffic control glitch
-
Pegula outlasts Navarro to set US Open semi with Sabalenka
-
Crude pushes towards $100 on Mideast flare-up, fanning inflation fears
-
From trenches to catwalk: Ukraine's amputee soldiers hit the runway
-
Record rain forces Asian Games athletes to evacuate accommodation
-
UK airports face more disruption after air traffic control glitch
-
Amusing or addictive? The algorithms powering our social feeds
-
ECB meets, weighing a tricky balance between savers and spenders
-
Norway bids farewell to King Harald V, 'grandfather' of the nation
-
Pakistan police counter drone attacks with Ukraine-style nets
-
NFL breaks new ground as 100,000 set to pack MCG in Australia
-
Russia torments Kyiv with new 'horror' jet drones
-
EU faces revolt over social media ban for children
-
Iran attacks US base in Jordan as Hormuz impasse deepens
-
Canada eyes researchers looking to leave 'hostile' US
-
New Apple CEO to face first test with foldable iPhone launch
-
Tiafoe escapes Michelsen to reach US Open semi-finals
-
Sabalenka edges Noskova, keeps US Open treble bid alive
-
Carney touts Canada 'pivot' away from US as Trump levels new threat
-
Real Madrid win Champions League opener as Haaland stars for Man City
South Korea probe team issues Christmas Day summons for Yoon
Investigators probing suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his foiled martial law bid on Friday ordered him to appear before the country's corruption watchdog on Christmas Day -- after he snubbed a previous summons this week.
Conservative leader Yoon was stripped of his duties by parliament last weekend following his short-lived December 3 martial law declaration, which plunged the country into its worst political turmoil in decades.
Yoon faces impeachment and criminal charges of insurrection that could see him jailed for life, or even face the death penalty, over a drama that stunned democratic South Korea's allies around the world.
He is being investigated by prosecutors as well as a joint team of police, defence ministry and anti-corruption investigators.
"The Joint Investigation Headquarters has notified President Yoon Suk Yeol of a second summons request," the latter said in a statement Friday.
The hearing at the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) is scheduled for 10:00 am (0100 GMT) on December 25. If Yoon shows up, he will become the first sitting South Korean president to appear before an investigative agency.
Yoon failed to attend a hearing he was summoned to on Wednesday and gave no reason for his absence.
Prosecutors earlier this week had ordered Yoon to appear for questioning or face possible arrest, but they have handed the case over to the CIO.
CIO chief Oh Dong-woon told parliament on Tuesday they were also "reviewing" whether to issue an arrest warrant.
Yoon has been suspended from his position, and the Constitutional Court on Monday began proceedings to determine whether to uphold his impeachment. It has around six months to rule on the matter.
The court has been requesting documents related to the martial law declaration, but they have now been returned undelivered three days in a row.
"The attempt to serve documents to the respondent, the president, failed. Meaning that they could not meet him," said a spokesperson for the court.
"We are reviewing other options," she added.
Former President Park Geun-hye was impeached under similar circumstances to Yoon, but she was investigated after the constitutional court removed her from power.
G.Frei--VB