ANKARA

South Korea’s ousted president on Tuesday denied that he had interfered in a probe into the death of a Marine in 2023, Yonhap News reported.

Yoon Suk Yeol made the statement during around seven hours of questioning during which he cooperated with special counsel investigators, answering most of their questions, Yoon’s lawyers told reporters.

Yoon, currently in detention, was transported in a prison van to the office of Special Counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon, who is leading the probe.

Prosecutors accuse Yoon of abusing his authority by instructing the presidential office and Defense Ministry to overturn the initial findings of a Marine Corps investigation to protect senior officials, including the Marine commander at the time.

He is also alleged to have helped former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup evade accountability by appointing him ambassador to Australia in March 2024.

It was Yoon’s first appearance before Lee’s team and only his second compliance with a special counsel summons.

The former president faces multiple investigations, including alleged efforts to impose martial law and corruption cases involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

Marine Lance Corp. Chae Su-geun drowned during a July 2023 search for flood victims in Yecheon County after being swept away by strong currents.

Military investigators concluded that Lim Seong-geun, then commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division, and seven other officers bore responsibility for the incident and recommended that they be referred to police on negligent homicide and related charges.