SEOUL, Jan 17, (V7N) — South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has once again refused to comply with investigators' demands for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law, intensifying the nation’s political turmoil as his detention nears its legal limit.

Yoon’s dramatic bid to enforce martial law on December 3, aimed at countering so-called "anti-state elements," plunged South Korea into chaos. His power grab collapsed within six hours when military forces failed to block lawmakers from impeaching him, triggering the country's most severe political crisis in decades.

Following weeks of defiance, Yoon was forcibly detained in a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) has until Friday to either release him or secure a new warrant to extend his detention by 20 days while prosecutors prepare formal charges of insurrection.

"It is anticipated that the CIO will request an arrest warrant from the Seoul Western District Court as the next step after the arrest warrant," Yoon's legal team confirmed.

Despite being summoned for questioning at 10 a.m. Friday, Yoon refused to appear for the second consecutive day. His lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, stated, "The president will not appear at the CIO today. He has sufficiently expressed his basic stance to the investigators on the first day."

Yoon, a former chief prosecutor, remained silent during hours of questioning on Wednesday and has rejected the legitimacy of the investigation. He claimed he only surrendered to prevent "bloodshed" but does not recognize the legal authority behind his arrest.

His ruling People Power Party denounced the detention as unlawful, while the opposition Democratic Party welcomed it as a crucial step toward restoring constitutional order.

Impeachment Trial Moves Forward

Parallel to the criminal investigation, the Constitutional Court is deliberating on whether to uphold Yoon's impeachment. If confirmed, his presidency would be officially terminated, triggering a snap election within 60 days.

Yoon has boycotted the initial impeachment hearings, maintaining his defiant stance. The trial is proceeding without him and could stretch on for months.

On Thursday, National Assembly legal representatives asserted that Yoon's arrest had "created the conditions to swiftly resolve the constitutional crisis through procedures outlined by the Constitution and the law."

Public Unrest and Political Divide

Outside the CIO headquarters, around 100 of Yoon's supporters gathered to protest his detention, accusing investigators of political persecution. Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Yoon doubled down on his claims of election fraud and warned of threats from "hostile nations," a veiled reference to North Korea.

As tensions escalate, South Korea stands at a political crossroads. Whether Yoon’s detention leads to formal charges and impeachment or further fuels unrest remains to be seen.