Former South Korean Defense minister Kim Yong-Hyun, who is suspected of being a key player in the unsuccessful declaration of martial law on december 3, attempted suicide just before being officially placed under arrest. The defense minister had been in custody since sunday after resigning last Thursday. On tuesday, he was officially placed under arrest.
 
The commissioner general of the Korea Correctional service stated at a parliamentary session that Mr. Kim attempted suicide just minutes before the announcement of his arrest.
According to an AFP report, Shin Yong-hae stated just before midnight that "Former minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center."
 
According to the official, Mr. Kim used a thread from his clothes to attempt suicide in the restroom.
 
The former defense minister committed suicide using underpants, according to a Reuters story, although he was being watched and his life was not in danger at the moment.
 
In connection with President Yoon Suk Yeol's temporary imposition of martial law, Mr. Kim is being investigated on insurrection-related crimes.
According to an AFP report, he was detained on allegations of "abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights" and "engaging in critical duties during an insurrection."
 
According to the article, Kim was formally arrested because of worries that the evidence would be lost. According to the court spokeswoman, the former minister's alleged offenses "fall within the scope of crimes for which the prosecution can initiate an investigation," the statement was made early on Wednesday.
 
On tuesday, Mr. Kim expressed regret by claiming that "all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me" through his attorneys. His subordinates were "merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties," he added, adding that he "deeply apologized" to the South Korean people.
 
Marital Law in South Korea
In what is seen to be a stable democracy, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol suspended civilian authority a week ago and dispatched special troops and helicopters to parliament before legislators compelled him to revoke the order. The temporary imposition of martial law caused a constitutional crisis in the fourth-largest economy in Asia and a significant ally of the United States.
 
Kwak Jong-geun, the head of army Special Warfare Command, said to legislators earlier tuesday that Yoon had given him instructions to prevent enough members of parliament from assembling to vote against the martial law order. South Korean police claimed to have stormed the President's office on wednesday, marking a major escalation of the investigation into Mr. Yoon. Following his brief suspension of civilian rule on december 3, Mr. Yoon is already prohibited from traveling as part of a "insurrection" investigation into his close circle.
 
Since expressing regret on saturday for attempting to enforce martial law, the president has not been spotted in public.
 
As the investigation into the political unrest brought on by the imposition of martial law proceeded, two senior police officers were also arrested in the early hours of wednesday in addition to the former defense minister.
 
Questions over who is in charge of the nation and the main opposition party's intention to pursue a second impeachment vote in parliament on saturday have further exacerbated the leadership crisis. The resolution, which was defeated in the first vote on december 7, has also received support from several members of the president's people Power party (PPP).