On the 30th, former president Yoon Suk-yeol's side submitted a request to the special prosecutor for a change of date, asking to be allowed to appear after July 3rd. Previously, the special prosecutor had informed Yoon of a second summons on July 1st after conducting the first interrogation on the 28th.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol returns home after finishing an investigation as a suspect at the special investigation office for insurrection set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, early in the morning on the 29th. / Courtesy of News1

On the same day, the legal representative team of the former president stated in a statement sent to reporters, "We submitted a request to the special prosecutor to change the specified date from July 1st to after the 3rd." They noted, "Just because one did not appear on the date required by the investigative agency does not immediately mean 'failure to comply with the summons.'"

The legal representative team continued, "The special prosecutor's perception that the investigative entity can unilaterally decide the schedule for (the interrogation) is contrary to the principle of discretionary investigation and the fundamental spirit of the Criminal Procedure Act," adding, "Just because the investigative agency unilaterally notified a summons does not create an obligation to appear."

In response, a legal expert noted, "It seems that the former president's side has submitted a request for a change of date to the special prosecutor in anticipation of a request or issuance of an arrest warrant."

An arrest warrant may be issued when a suspect fails to comply with or is likely to fail to comply with a summons from the investigative agency. The investigative agency must request a detention warrant for the suspect or take release measures within 48 hours after executing the arrest warrant. Previously, Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested by the CIO following the execution of an arrest warrant in January and was detained once due to the issuance of a detention warrant by the court. He was later released following the cancellation of the detention by the court.

In response, Park Ji-young, the deputy special prosecutor of the special investigation team, stated during a media briefing, "We will review whether there are reasonable grounds for the postponement request (from Yoon's side) and will subsequently consider whether to follow the procedures under the Criminal Procedure Act," which is interpreted to refer to requesting an arrest warrant.

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