On December 17, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s legal team firmly denied any connection to the charge of rebellion, stating, "We do not agree with the concept of rebellion as a legal matter in the slightest." They also announced that if a public hearing is held, President Yoon will appear in court to assert his position with confidence.

Seok Dong Hyun, a lawyer with a 40-year relationship with President Yoon and a key external advisor, conveyed the president's stance while speaking to reporters. Seok Dong Hyun explained that he oversees all matters related to legal defense and investigation on behalf of President Yoon.

Regarding the declaration of martial law, Seok defended President Yoon, stating, "The president has been subjected to constant obstruction of state affairs by the opposition party. In that context, declaring martial law wasn’t a mere emotional reaction like ‘let’s just do it out of frustration.’ It was a decision made within that cause-and-effect relationship."

He further argued, "Even calling it a disruption of the constitutional order is hardly an exaggeration, considering the rampant impeachment attempts, budget cuts, and the mockery and humiliation directed at public officials summoned to the National Assembly. The impeachment trial provides a chance to challenge the legal basis of these actions, as it addresses the damage done to the rule of law."

Seok criticized the ongoing investigation as "frenzied" and unreasonable. "If you’ve read the clause on rebellion even once, you’d know this isn’t rebellion," he stated. "Yes, it shocked the public, but this wasn’t an attempt to seize full power, nor is the president the leader of a rebellion. Why would a sitting president stage a rebellion against himself?"

He also claimed that only certain parts of society — particularly the opposition party — were exaggerating the situation as if a rebellion had taken place, calling it "overblown." He added, "We do not consider this to be rebellion. We respect the process of impeachment as per the National Assembly Act, but the investigation itself feels absurd."

Currently, President Yoon and the presidential office are maintaining a stance of non-cooperation with the ongoing investigation into the martial law declaration. They ignored the summons from the Special Investigation Unit, which requested the president's appearance by December 15, citing the need to form a legal defense team. In response, the investigation unit issued a second summons, demanding President Yoon appear by December 21.

Efforts to deliver the summons in person have also been met with resistance. A joint investigation task force — composed of the police, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), and the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters — attempted to deliver the summons to both the presidential office and the official residence but was met with rejection. The summons sent to the residence were returned with the note "refused by the recipient," while the summons sent to the presidential office were marked "addressee unknown."

Seok criticized the investigation process, calling for changes not only to the procedures but also to the way investigative bodies operate. He stated, "It’s fundamentally impossible to conduct an investigation and an impeachment trial simultaneously. We have multiple investigative agencies — two or three of them — competing as if it’s a race to summon and enforce investigations. This clearly needs to be adjusted."

Seok emphasized that while they will comply with legal procedures, "The president is still the president, even if his powers are suspended by the impeachment. It’s not as if he has to report to every call from the investigative bodies." He added, "Just because you're summoned doesn’t mean you have to go. That’s not the only way to comply with legal procedures."

When asked about a specific date for the president’s appearance, Seok did not provide a clear answer. Regarding the Special Investigation Unit's second summons, he said, "It’s difficult to answer that." When asked whether this week’s investigation would be possible after submitting a notice of attorney appointment, Seok replied, "It's hard to say." He also declined to specify whether President Yoon would appear before the Special Investigation Unit or the joint investigative task force, stating, "We will review and make a decision in the next few days," but added, "It won’t be today or tomorrow."

SEE ALSO: Yoon Suk Yeol snubs Prosecution request for questioning