South Korea’s then-Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun pictured on October 31 in Washington. - Photo: Reuters
SEOUL: South Korea’s former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of playing a lead role in the failed imposition of martial law on December 3, has attempted suicide inside a detention centre, a justice ministry official told parliament.
Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, told lawmakers on Wednesday that Kim tried to kill himself at a detention centre in Seoul. Shin said Kim’s suicide attempt failed and he was now in a stable condition.
Kim was formally arrested earlier 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.
The Seoul Central District Court said in a statement on Wednesday that ex-defence minister Kim had been arrested amid concerns that evidence might be destroyed.
Charges against Kim included “engaging in critical duties during an insurrection” and “abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights”.
Kim said through his lawyers that “all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me” and that subordinates were “merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties”.
Kim, who was detained on Sunday, has been slapped with a travel ban along with the former interior minister and the general in charge of the martial law operation.
In a statement made through his lawyers on Dec 10, Kim also “deeply apologised” to the South Korean people and said that his subordinates were “merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties”.
A justice ministry official also told Parliament on Wednesday that Kim is said to have tried to use underwear to kill himself. But he failed in his suicide attempt.
Yoon had suspended civilian rule a week ago and sent special forces and helicopters to Parliament, before lawmakers forced him to rescind the decree in a country assumed to be a stable democracy.
Two top police officials were also taken into custody in the early hours of Wednesday (Dec 11), as the investigation into the political turmoil caused by the martial law declaration gathered pace. - Agencies
