Detained S.Korean ex-defense minister attempts suicide as martial law probe picks up pace

Global Times-Agencies

South Korean ex-defense minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at detention facility, as intensive operations are carried out over President Yoon Suk-yeol's short-lived martial law, Yonhap News Agency reported on Wednesday. 

Kim was formally arrested early Wednesday on charges of helping Yoon stage an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law last week, Yonhap reported.

The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant for his arrest after prosecutors accused Kim of engaging in "essential" activities in insurrection and abusing his power to obstruct the exercising of rights when martial law was in place for six hours between Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

Kim is the first person to be formally arrested over the events, Yonhap reported.

With Kim's formal arrest, the prosecution's investigation into Yoon's insurrection charges is expected to pick up pace. Yoon has been booked as a suspect and barred from traveling overseas.

National Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho was also arrested early Wednesday on insurrection charges, Yonhap said. 

Under the law, a president is immune from prosecution while in office, except in cases of insurrection, according to Yonhap. 

The head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Oh Dong-woon claimed Wednesday to have "plenty of will" to arrest President Yoon, when he was pressed by a lawmaker on whether he has the "will" to do so, per the Korea Times. 

On Wednesday, police raided multiple locations, including the presidential office and the police headquarters. Raids were also being conducted at the offices of the Seoul Metropolitan Police and the National Assembly Police Guards, police said.

Yoon was reportedly not inside the presidential office building when investigators arrived to gather material related to his imposition of martial law. 

The National Assembly passed an opposition-led resolution Tuesday calling for the immediate arrest of President Yoon and seven other officials over last week's botched martial law declaration.

According to law, a National Assembly resolution, like a bill, is subject to the process of proposal, review by the jurisdiction committee and deliberation by the plenary session, but it will not have legal effect. 

The parliament also passed a bill Tuesday to mandate the appointment of a permanent special counsel to investigate treason charges against Yoon. Unlike a bill for a regular special counsel, the president cannot exercise his veto right against a permanent one, so the Assembly can immediately start the process to recommend a special counsel candidate.

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