Seoul: A special counsel team announced on Tuesday that former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been summoned to appear for questioning this weekend regarding his alleged interference in a military investigation into the 2023 death of a young Marine.

According to Yonhap News Agency, special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team sent a notice to Yoon on Monday, instructing him to present himself for questioning at 10 a.m. on Saturday. This information was disclosed by assistant special counsel Choung Min-young during a press briefing. Yoon, currently in custody due to his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in December, faces separate accusations of abusing his power and aiding a criminal's flight in relation to the Marine's case.

The investigation centers on suspicions that Yoon ordered both the presidential office and the defense ministry to overturn the initial findings of a military probe into the death of Corporal Chae Su-geun. This alleged interference aimed to absolve a then Marine commander from responsibility. Additionally, Yoon is accused of assisting former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup in evading accountability by appointing him as ambassador to Australia in March 2024.

Previously, the special counsel team had requested Yoon's appearance on October 23, but he failed to comply, citing conflicts with his lawyers' trial schedules. Assistant special counsel Choung expressed optimism regarding Yoon's cooperation, stating, "I understand that his lawyers are not of the position that he will not appear at all. We expect him to appear on the eighth."

The case involves the tragic death of the Marine, who perished in July 2023 after being swept away in a swollen stream during a search mission for victims of heavy rains. The Marine was not equipped with proper safety gear, such as a life vest, at the time of the incident.