Seoul: Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team faced a setback on Tuesday as their second attempt to question former President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with his martial law bid was unsuccessful. Despite sending instructions to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang to bring Yoon to the interrogation room by 2 p.m., the former president refused to cooperate.

According to Yonhap News Agency, correctional officers attempted to bring Yoon in for questioning on both Monday and Tuesday but were unable to use physical force due to his status as a former president. The special counsel has not informed Yoon's legal team of any further appearances and is reviewing alternative methods for questioning.

Assistant special counsel Park Ji-young indicated that Yoon's legal team has not expressed any intention regarding the questioning since Monday, which the special counsel interprets as a refusal. Park emphasized that while suspects have the right to remain silent, refusing questioning could negatively impact sentencing.

Yoon, who has ignored multiple summonses since his second arrest last Thursday, faces criticism from his legal team. They argue that the special counsel's insistence on bringing Yoon in for questioning is an attempt to publicly humiliate him, suggesting that questioning could occur at the detention center instead.

The special counsel team holds the correctional officers responsible for their failure to execute the order. Park stated that they have questioned the officers about the circumstances surrounding their inability to bring Yoon in. If the refusal to cooperate continues, the special counsel may choose to indict Yoon without further questioning.

Yoon is facing charges including violating the rights of Cabinet members by selectively calling them to a meeting before declaring martial law on December 3, and creating a false martial law declaration document to legitimize his actions. This is Yoon's second arrest; the first occurred in January while he was still in office, but he was released in March after a court accepted his request to cancel the arrest. He is currently on trial for insurrection and abuse of power related to his martial law attempt.