South Korea's former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has been arrested for his role in the president’s botched attempt to impose martial law, attempted to kill himself in custody, officials from the correctional service told parliament.
Members of the National Assembly were informed of Mr Kim’s suicide bid as police raided the presidential office on Wednesday to investigate charges against Yoon Suk Yeol, who is accused of staging an insurrection by imposing martial law.
A team of 18 investigators searched Mr Yoon’s office for material related to the martial law decree such as records of a cabinet meeting held shortly beforehand.
A warrant for the search reportedly listed president Mr Yoon as the suspect, though he has not been arrested or questioned so far.
Mr Kim, a close confidant of Mr Yoon, tried to kill himself at a detention centre in Seoul but his attempt failed, said Shin Yong Hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service. The former minister is in a stable condition now and is being held in a protective cell, he added.
Mr Kim was the first person to be detained following president Yoon’sbrief declaration of martial law on 3 December, which plunged the East Asian country into a political crisis. Mr Kim allegedly advised the president to declare martial law and resigned as defence minister soon after.
He was formally arrested on Wednesday after a Seoul court approved a warrant for him on allegations of playing a key role in a rebellion and committing abuse of power.
"We considered the degree to which the charges are supported, the gravity of the crime and concerns he will destroy evidence," the court said, according to the Korea Herald. Prosecutors argued that Mr Kim was "conspiring with the president to start a riot in an effort to subvert the national constitution."
The former minister has been reportedly questioned three times since he was taken into custody on Sunday after he voluntarily appeared for the investigation. He allegedly conceded during questioning that he proposed martial law to the president but claimed it was neither illegal nor unconstitutional, Yonhap news agency reported.
The parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to appoint a permanent special counsel to investigate the president on charges of insurrection.
Unlike a regular special counsel investigation, the president does not have the authority to veto a bill establishing a permanent special counsel. However, he can delay the appointment of the counsel.
Mr Yoon’s declaration of martial law, the first for the country in four decades, which lasted for about six hours before being overturned by parliament.
Mr Yoon survived an impeachment attempt last Saturday when the ruling party boycotted the vote, but the Democratic Party is aiming to put the new motion to a vote on Saturday.After last week’s impeachment motion fell through, the leader of Mr Yoon’s conservative party pledged to arrange his stable exit from power, saying the party will coordinate with cabinet members over state affairs and that the president will be sidelined from duties ahead of an early election.
Mr Yoon has been banned from leaving the country.
Calls for the president’s arrest grew stronger after top military officers said Mr Yoon had ordered troops to enter parliament to prevent them from voting to reject martial law.
Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, told a parliamentary committee that the president ordered the military to “break the door down right now and get in there and drag out” the lawmakers.
Parliamentarians were seen climbing over a fence on 3 December to get into the Assembly’s building to vote to reject the draconian law.
South Korean police have also arrested their own national chief and the top police officer for Seoul for their roles in enforcing the president’s short-lived martial law decree.
Prime minister Han Duck Soo, who was one of the 11 cabinet members to attend the president’s emergency meeting last week, said he opposed Mr Yoon’s martial law declaration and apologised for failing to prevent its implementation.
"Ultimately, I could not stop (martial law declaration)," Mr Han told lawmakers. "I feel regretful and remorseful."
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
