South Korea's impeached President Yoon defies summons

ANKARA

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday defied a summons issued by the prosecution team handling an investigation into his botched bid to impose martial law on Dec. 3.

Yoon did not show up although the special prosecution team said it had sent a summons to Yoon on Wednesday, asking him to appear for questioning on Sunday.

Prosecutors intend to soon send a second summons to Yoon, who has been named as a suspect on possible charges of treason following his aborted martial law declaration.

South Korea - Asia's fourth-largest economy - plunged into a deepening political crisis when Yoon announced the imposition of martial law, which was blocked by the parliament hours later.

Yoon was impeached by the opposition-led National Assembly on Saturday after several ruling party lawmakers supported the motion.

He had survived the first impeachment move earlier this month after the ruling People Power Party's lawmakers boycotted the vote.

Yoon's fate now lies with the country's Constitutional Court which has 180 days to uphold or overturn the impeachment. In case the impeachment is upheld, the new presidential election must be held within 60 days.

The 63-year-old leader’s move has opened a wide probe including against Yoon himself who has become the first sitting president to face charges of treason and insurrection as well as a travel ban.

Yoon was elected in 2022 for a five-year term until 2027 but his administration has been rendered toothless after the main opposition Democratic Party won the majority in parliamentary polls held in April this year.

Following the impeachment, Yoon vowed to do his best for the country "until the end."