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South Korea Former Defense Minister Kim Jong-hyun attempted to commit suicide while in detention due to the president declaring martial law before officials stopped him.
This, as police raided President Yoon Suk-yeol's office on Wednesday amid an investigation into the president's announcement.
The main liberal opposition Democratic Party It plans to hold a second impeachment vote on Saturday for declaring martial law after the failure of the first impeachment attempt last weekend.
Kim tried to commit suicide overnight at a detention center in the capital, Seoul, but the attempt to end his life failed after officials stopped him, Shin Young-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, told lawmakers on Wednesday at a parliamentary committee meeting. .
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South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jong-hyun speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 1, 2024. (AP)
Kim was listed in stable condition.
Justice Minister Park Sung-jae also confirmed Kim's failed suicide attempt during a parliamentary committee meeting.
Kim was arrested early Wednesday after a Seoul court approved a warrant An arrest warrant was issued for him Due to allegations of playing a major role in the rebellion and committing abuse of power. Kim was the first person to be officially arrested due to the president's martial law decree on December 3.
Kim, a close confidant of Yoon, is accused of recommending martial law to the president and sending troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting on the proposal. Lawmakers were eventually able to enter the parliament hall, where they unanimously rejected Yoon's decree, forcing it to be rescinded just hours after it was announced.
Prosecutors have up to 20 days to decide whether to charge Kim in the case.
Cho Ji-ho, Commissioner-General of the National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, Head of the National Police Agency Metropolitan Police Agency From Seoul, they were arrested for their actions during martial law over allegations that police were deployed to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting.
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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, December 7, 2024. (AP)
The country's main law enforcement agencies are focusing on whether Yun, Kim and others involved in the martial law decree committed the crime of rebellion, for which conviction carries a maximum death penalty.
Yoon, a conservative, apologized on Saturday for declaring martial law, saying he would not seek to evade legal proceedings or… Political responsibility For movement. He also said he would leave it to his party to lead the country through political turmoil “including matters related to my term in office.”
In declaring martial law, Yoon said he wanted to rebuild the country by eliminating North Korea's “insolent henchmen and anti-state forces,” a swipe at his liberal rivals who control parliament.
Opposition parties and many experts say the martial law decree is unconstitutional. This was the first time martial law was imposed in South Korea in more than 40 years.
During a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, Kwak Jong-kyun, the commander of the Army's Special Warfare Command whose troops were sent to Parliament, testified that Yoon called him and asked troops deployed in Parliament to “quickly destroy the door and take out the lawmakers inside.” “.
Kwak said he did not follow Yoon's order.
Participants gather to organize a march demanding the dismissal of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, in front of the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, December 10, 2024. (AP)
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Senior Officer Kim Dae-woo of the military's counterintelligence agency said at the same hearing that his commander, Yoo In-hyung, asked him whether the army bunker in Seoul had space to detain politicians and other figures after martial law was declared. Yoo is considered a close confidant of Kim.
If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. Prime Minister Han Dak-soo, the second-in-command in the South Korean government, will assume his presidential responsibilities.
If the president is removed, an election must be held to replace him within 60 days.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
