- By Anushka Vats
- Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:15 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
South Korean former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at a detention centre, a Justice Ministry official told a parliament hearing on Wednesday. Kim was arrested on Sunday as prosecutors investigated his role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's decision last week to impose martial law.
Kim was found by guards as he attempted suicide inside a detention centre using his underwear, the justice ministry's chief of correction services, Shin Yong-hae, told parliament's justice committee. He was under observation and his life was not currently in danger, Shin added.
This comes on the same day when South Korean police raided the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a widening investigation into the embattled leader's failed attempt to impose martial law.
While the national police agency declined to immediately confirm the raid, a presidential security service official confirmed to Reuters that police raided Yoon's office.
Earlier this week, Yoon announced that he was imposing martial law to rid the National Assembly of "shameless North Korean followers and anti-state forces."
On Saturday, he apologised to the people of the nation for his "desperate" action, The New York Times reported.
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The raid marks a dramatic escalation of the probe against Yoon and top police and military officers for the surprise December 3 martial law declaration that plunged Asia's fourth-largest economy and a major US ally into a constitutional crisis, according to the Yonhap news agency.
Reportedly, Yoon was not at the presidential office compound during the raid and his official residence is at a separate location.
Kim Yong-hyun Was Arrested On Insurrection Charges
Kim has resigned and has been arrested on insurrection charges. Earlier on Wednesday, the national police chief became the latest top official to be arrested over the martial law declaration, Yonhap news agency said. Yoon himself is now the subject of a criminal investigation on insurrection charges and is banned from leaving the country, but he has not been arrested or questioned by authorities.
(With inputs from Reuters)