Seoul:

South Korean investigators have called in jailed President Yoon Seok-yul for further questioning, Yonhap news agency reported, as authorities seek a warrant to extend his detention or release the embattled leader. is facing a deadline.

Legal experts said that to further detain Yun, investigators are expected on Friday to ask the court to approve a detention warrant for up to 20 days.

On Wednesday, Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested amid an investigation into whether he staged a coup when he briefly imposed martial law in early December. He is being held at a detention center in Seoul.

Although Yoon’s lawyers challenged the legality of Yoon’s arrest, the Seoul Central District Court rejected their challenge late Thursday, saying Yoon’s arrest was legal.

Yoon has been recalled for questioning at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Friday, Yonhap reported, citing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) which is leading the criminal inquiry. The CIO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It was unclear whether Yoon, who has so far refused to answer questions from investigators, would agree to participate in questioning Friday. A day earlier, Yoon declined to be questioned, with his lawyer citing his health as the reason for his absence.

Authorities have 48 hours to question the impeached president, after which they must release him or seek a warrant to detain him for up to 20 days.

Yonhap quoted the CIO as saying the 48-hour countdown was expected to end on Friday evening after it was adjourned to allow the court to review the challenge to his arrest.

Yoon’s lawyer Seok Dong-hyun said on Friday that investigators are expected to obtain a detention warrant, adding that “we hope the court will be more careful about the “illegality” of the arrest when it reviews the warrant. And comprehensive consideration will be given.

South Korea is reeling from its worst political crisis in decades, triggered by Yun’s brief attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3 that was rejected by parliament.

Neighboring North Korea has largely avoided public comment on the political chaos in Seoul, but news of Yun’s arrest emerged in state media on Friday, two days after the incident.

The Rodong Sunmun newspaper, citing foreign media, said it was the first arrest of a sitting president in South Korea.

“Yoon Suk-yul is not following the legal procedure at the expense of the national system for individual interests,” Rodong Sunmun said.

(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

(Tags translation) Yoon Suk-yul (T) South Korea (T) Yoon Suk-Yul’s impeachment



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