South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) announced on Wednesday that former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was impeached and subsequently arrested, refused to cooperate during questioning. The investigation, conducted between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. local time, saw Yoon consistently decline to provide statements or allow the questioning process to be recorded or videotaped.

According to local media, the CIO is currently in discussions with the presidential security service regarding the possibility of transferring Yoon to the Seoul Detention Center for custody. In addition, the agency is considering applying for a detention warrant from the Seoul Western District Court, which initially issued the arrest warrant for Yoon.

If granted, the detention period could be extended to a maximum of 20 days. The CIO plans to transfer Yoon to the prosecution after a 10-day detention period.

Yoon’s legal team, however, has strongly opposed the actions taken by the CIO. In a statement, the team argued that the agency lacks the jurisdiction to investigate a sitting president and declared the arrest warrant "illegal." They vowed to hold the CIO and police accountable for what they described as the unlawful execution of the warrant.

South Korean policemen are seen on guard near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea. AFP