By Joyce Lee and Ju-min Park
SEOUL (Reuters) – Detained South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to attend a second day of questioning by investigators on Thursday, making further progress in a criminal investigation into whether he staged a coup with his martial law.
On Wednesday Yoon became the first South Korean president to be arrested and taken to a detention center in Seoul, after refusing to cooperate. He remained at the facility on Thursday, his lawyer citing his health as the reason.
Authorities have 48 hours to question the suspended president, after which they must release him or seek a warrant to detain him for 20 days.
Yoon's refusal to cooperate with investigators came as the Constitutional Court held a second hearing in his impeachment trial to determine whether to permanently remove him or restore his presidential powers.
South Korea is facing its worst political crisis in decades, sparked by Yoon's brief attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3 that was voted down by parliament.
In opening hearings at the Constitutional Court, a representative of the opposition Democratic Party accused Yoon of the “December 3 uprising” and said that Yoon and a small number of supporters wanted to stir up chaos by refusing to accept his arrest warrant.
“This impeachment trial decides whether or not to reinstate such a person to the post of commander-in-chief of the military,” said Jung Chung-rae, who heads the Parliament's Law and Judiciary Committee.
In response, one of Yoon's defense team said his impeachment was not aimed at protecting the constitution but at the opposition's “use of too much parliamentary power to usurp the presidency”.
The main opposition Democratic Party used its majority in parliament to bring about Yoon's vote, although 12 other lawmakers from Yoon's party also voted against it.
A poll conducted by Realmeter on Dec. 4, the day after Yoon's martial law was announced, showed that 73.6% supported Yoon's prosecution.
Meanwhile, the latest opinion poll conducted by Realmeter on Jan. 9-10 showed support for Yoon's ruling party rising to 40.8%, close to the main opposition Democratic Party's 42.2%.
Yoon's lawyer Cho Dae-hyen said the ousted president's decision to declare martial law was made in good faith in his view that the country was in a state of emergency.
One of Yoon's lawyers, Bae Jin-han, quipped: “Some say 'you're out if you breathe' these days.”
Yoon's arrest on Wednesday ended a weeks-long standoff with authorities after police raided his fortified village in Seoul before dawn to the frustration of fans in the area.
Yoon said he handed over the questioning by corruption probe officials to prevent what he called an “unpleasant bloodbath”, though he has repeatedly complained that it was an illegal investigation and an illegal arrest warrant.
THE COURT WILL REVIEW THE ARREST WARRANT
The embattled leader has refused to speak to investigators who have prepared a more than 200-page questionnaire, an official from the Chief Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) leading the criminal investigation said.
His inquiries were due to resume at 2pm (0500 GMT) on Thursday, but the CIO said they had been informed by Yoon's side that he would not be attending.
Yonhap quoted Yoon Kab-keun, one of Yoon's lawyers, as saying that the ousted president's health is the priority and that asking more questions is pointless, without elaborating.
A small group of pro-Yoon protesters gathered and sat on the road outside the CIO's office, calling for the president's illegal arrest.
His lawyers said the arrest warrant was illegal because it was issued by a court in the wrong place and the team appointed to investigate did not have the legal authority to do so.
They also asked another court to consider the legality of the arrest. Yoon's 48-hour detention period has been temporarily suspended while a court review is underway, according to the CIO.
His legal team has denied charges against Yoon of treason, a crime in South Korea punishable by life in prison or technically the death penalty.
The last execution in South Korea was in 1997, for crimes such as murder.
Political unrest has also hit Asia's fourth-largest economy and put pressure on earnings.
South Korea's central bank governor said Thursday that the most important indicator of economic health in the coming months is whether the political turmoil is stable.
That's why the correction of the political system is more important than reducing interest rates a month ago or later, said Rhee Chang-yong, speaking after the Bank of Korea unexpectedly held the policy interest rate at 3.00% on Thursday, criticizing. Analysts expect devaluation.