Yoon Seok-yeol refuses to be summoned by the special prosecution due to health reasons... What is his strategy?

Yoon Seok-yeol's Re-arrest and Refusal to Appear before the Special Prosecutor

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol has continuously claimed that the special prosecutor's investigation is a political one. However, in the early hours of July 10, 2025, he was re-arrested by the court. Serious charges, including conspiracy to insurrection and abuse of power, were applied, and the court issued an arrest warrant citing concerns about evidence destruction. This became a critical turning point that significantly changed his defense strategy. After his re-arrest, former President Yoon did not respond to the special prosecutor's summons, citing health reasons. He expressed physical limitations by mentioning diabetes, eye diseases, and issues regarding prescription drug imports, claiming that the poor conditions of the detention center constituted a violation of human rights. This change in attitude clearly indicates his determination not to cooperate at all with the investigation. He now stands at a crossroads in strategy, and it is becoming increasingly clear whether his refusal to be summoned is not just a simple act but the beginning of a long-term silence or the worst choice he could make.

Analysis of Existing Strategies

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol has considered the special prosecutor's investigation as 'political retaliation' while expressing his willingness to comply with the established legal procedures. This appears to stem from a political consideration to avoid damaging his image as a victim rather than an outright rejection of the investigation. He complied relatively well with the summons following the first arrest warrant request, and despite some postponements and delays during the second round of questioning, he ultimately participated. However, this strategy amounted to 'formal acceptance, substantive rejection,' as he did not truly cooperate. He refused to answer the investigators' questions, attacking the legitimacy of the investigation. To him, the investigation was a political stage rather than a legal procedure, and his statements were used as a means to control his narrative. This strategy was advantageous in defending himself by leveraging public opinion while avoiding direct confrontation with the investigative agencies.

Signs of Change

On the morning of July 10, 2025, former President Yoon Seok-yeol was re-incarcerated in Seoul Detention Center, and his tactics began to show a clear change. His refusal to respond to the special prosecution's first summons request citing health reasons illustrates this well. He claimed issues such as diabetes, eye disorders, lack of prescribed medication, and insufficient exercise, stating that the detention center's environment was inadequate. However, the Seoul Detention Center, based on health examination results, stated that there were 'no special abnormal findings,' and the special prosecution has deemed Yoon's health reasons as 'unjustified.' This attitude reveals his intent to no longer accept the control of investigative agencies and appears to be an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the investigation itself. This could be assessed as a strategy of obstructing the investigation, and it remains to be seen what impact it will have on future developments.

Four Expected Strategies

The first strategy that former President Yoon Seok-yeol can choose is a silence strategy, which involves refusing all statements and not complying with summons. This approach has already been used in the investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office and is interpreted as an attempt to undermine the investigation through silence on all questions. The fact that there are fewer disadvantages while being detained may also influence the choice of this silence strategy. Secondly, there is a court-centered defense strategy. He is likely to respond passively during the investigation phase but adopt a strategy of direct rebuttal in court. The third strategy is to maintain a political frame and prolong the public opinion battle. He defines the investigation itself as part of political elimination and seeks to recover a negative image through public opinion warfare by his legal team and close aides. Finally, there is a strategy involving a bail application citing health issues and hospitalization. This serves as a tactic to disrupt the investigative framework, emphasizing his health problems and considering bail requests based on arguments of human rights violations. These strategies represent a sophisticated approach aimed at legal defense while also seeking to delay the investigation and disperse public opinion.

Yoon Seok-yeol's Political Future

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol is currently at a critical crossroads. He is shifting his strategy by refusing to respond to the special prosecutor's summons due to health issues and not making any statements. This may seem like a choice he believes will be advantageous for himself, but such a choice appears shortsighted and focused solely on self-defense. He is employing a dual strategy of asserting legitimacy through public opinion while not directly confronting the investigation. However, the majority of the public has already withdrawn their political trust in him, and his name is no longer treated as significant in the political arena. Caught between political isolation and legal responsibility, he is enduring with the weapon of 'silence,' which is more akin to evasion than defense. What he should be doing now is attending the special prosecutor's office to reveal the truth, yet he continues to repeat the worst choice of non-response. As a result, former President Yoon is facing a serious crisis regarding his political future.