The remarks came just a day after his arrest warrant, issued by the Seoul Western District Court, was extended and another attempt to arrest him by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) looms over his botched martial law debacle last month.
"The president cannot comply with an investigation under an invalid arrest warrant, but he will cooperate with legal procedures to avoid causing further inconvenience to the public and putting additional burden on public officials," said Yoon Gap-geun, one of his lawyers, during a press conference in southern Seoul.
The lawyer elaborated that Yoon would refuse to comply with any warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court, but he would respond to the one from the Seoul Central District Court, which he claims has jurisdiction over the charges of insurrection and abuse of power he faces.
Yoon had repeatedly rejected requests for questioning or an arrest warrant from the CIO, citing its lack of jurisdiction and authority to investigate him over the charges, but he now seemed to suggest some compromise, indicating that he could respond to such a warrant even if requested by the CIO.
Yoon probably believes the Seoul Central District Court would not grant a warrant for his detention as there is no flight risk, but that would rather suggest he is eager to avoid arrest by any means.
Earlier, some raised doubts that the CIO deliberately chose the Seoul Western District Court to request Yoon's arrest, believing it may be more favorable to the case.
Meanwhile, Yoon's legal representatives dismissed rumors suggesting that Yoon had fled from his official residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, saying they had met with him the previous day.
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