FILE PHOTO: South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul gives a statement about his 2+2 meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, at the State Department in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
South Korea’s former defence minister was prevented from attempting suicide while in detention following last week’s martial law declaration, according to officials.
On Wednesday, police were also attempting to search President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office as part of their intensifying investigation. The main liberal opposition, the Democratic Party, intends to submit a new motion to impeach Yoon for his 3 December declaration, which imposed martial law in South Korea for the first time in over 40 years. An initial impeachment attempt against Yoon last Saturday failed, as ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote.
Shin Yong Hae, Commissioner General of the Korea Correctional Service, informed lawmakers on Wednesday that Kim attempted suicide the previous night at a detention centre in Seoul. He noted that centre officials thwarted the attempt, and Kim is now in stable condition.
During the same parliamentary committee meeting, Justice Minister Park Sung Jae confirmed Kim’s failed suicide attempt.
Kim was arrested early Wednesday after a Seoul court approved a warrant on allegations of his involvement in a rebellion and abuse of power. He became the first individual formally arrested in connection with the 3 December martial law decree.
Kim, a close associate of Yoon, is accused of recommending martial law to Yoon and deploying troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting on it. Despite these efforts, enough lawmakers managed to enter the chamber and unanimously reject Yoon’s decree, forcing the Cabinet to lift it before dawn on 4 December. Prosecutors now have up to 20 days to decide whether to indict Kim.
Later on Wednesday, National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji Ho and Kim Bong-sik, head of the metropolitan police agency in Seoul, were detained for their actions during martial law. They are accused of deploying police forces alongside troops to block lawmakers from voting.
The country’s primary law enforcement bodies are focused on determining whether Yoon, Kim, and others involved in imposing martial law committed the crime of rebellion, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of death.
Frances Ibiefo
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