President Yoon Suk Yeol has failed to respond to a second request to appear for questioning by investigative authorities probing his December 3 martial law decree.

An official at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials(CIO) told reporters that Yoon did not appear for questioning at the CIO office in Gwacheon by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, refusing the request by a joint probe team comprising the police, the defense ministry and the CIO.

The official said the probe team will decide how to respond to the situation after watching developments, including a possible response from Yoon’s legal advisers. 

Last Friday, the probe team delivered the latest summons to the president, just two days after sending its first summons, asking Yoon to appear for questioning as a suspect for abusing his power and leading an insurrection.

However, attempts to deliver the summons to Yoon were all rejected.

Earlier on Tuesday, Seok Dong-hyeon, a legal adviser to Yoon, had told reporters that the president is unlikely to appear for questioning.   

Seok said Yoon thinks his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court comes first, adding it is a priority for him to explain his position to the Constitutional Court judges and the people.