SOUTH KOREA’S jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol again refused to attend questioning by investigators today.

The ousted right-wing politician resisted questioning by taking off his prison uniform and lying down on the floor of his cell.

Mr Yoon, who was removed from office in April after failing to impose martial law, was sent back to prison last month as he stands a high-stakes trial over rebellion and other charges. 

He also faces investigations into other criminal allegations, unrelated to his December 3 martial law attempt, which target him, his wife and others.

Min Joong Ki, a special counsel named by his rival and new President Lee Jae Myung, sent investigators today to retrieve Mr Yoon from a detention centre near Seoul, after he had twice defied requests to attend questioning. 

Mr Min’s team is tasked with delving into allegations surrounding Mr Yoon’s wife Kim Keon Hee, including that she and her husband exerted inappropriate influence on the then-ruling party’s election nomination process in 2022.

Mr Min’s team had a court-issued detention warrant authorising them to bring Mr Yoon by force, but said they were hoping for his voluntary cooperation.

“Without wearing his prison uniform, the suspect lay down on the floor and strongly resisted his detention,” assistant special counsel Oh Jeong Hee told a televised briefing.

Ms Oh said her team members had refrained from using physical means out of safety concerns, but notified Mr Yoon they would execute the warrant next time.

She urged Mr Yoon to co-operate as the Korean people are closely watching whether the enforcement of law is applied to everyone equally.

Mr Yoon’s imposition of martial law, which brought armed troops into Seoul streets, lasted only a few hours before lawmakers unanimously voted down his decree.