President Yoon Suk Yeol is unlikely to appear for questioning this week as requested by the investigation team handling the martial law case, his lawyer said Tuesday.
The probe team is seeking to question Yoon in person over his alleged involvement in the botched Dec. 3 martial law imposition, on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, and has asked him to appear for questioning Wednesday.
Seok Dong-hyeon, Yoon's lawyer, said Yoon places priority on the Constitutional Court proceedings on his impeachment and that he plans to issue a statement on his position on the trial after Christmas Day.
"We see it as unlikely that he will be able to attend tomorrow," Seok told reporters.
"The president thinks that the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial procedure should take precedence, as the National Assembly has initiated the impeachment process," he said.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials has sent summons to Yoon's side twice, seeking his presence to undergo the interrogation as part of its probe into Yoon's brief martial law order.
Yoon did not comply with the first summons, which had requested that he show up last Wednesday. (Yonhap)