South Korea's ex-defense minister after raid in mortal danger

South Korea's ex-defense minister after raid in mortal danger

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Political crisis in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea-the former Defense Minister of South Korea, Kim Yong-Hyun, tried to commit suicide during his detention. This was announced by the head of the country's correctional authority on Wednesday. This incident fell in the middle of a political crisis, which was triggered by the short-term but surprising explanation of President Yoon Suk Yeol for martial legislation and fueled the public anger in the country.

Raid in the presidential office

The South Korean police searched the presidential office on Wednesday, which a security officer of the President confirmed to CNN. This happened a week after the president's unexpected and rapidly withdrawn explanation to the introduction of war law triggered great outrage among the population.

Arrest from Kim Yong-Hyun

Kim was arrested in the capital Seoul on Sunday and is the first person to be detained in connection with this matter. He is accused of having recommended the imposition of martial law. On Thursday he finally resigned from his office as Minister of Defense.

The circumstances of the incident

Shin Yong-Hae, the general director of the Korea Correctional Service, explained that Kim made the attempted suicide before a formal arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday evening. During a hearing in the national parliament, Shin reported that the incident took place in a bathroom. When a judiciary opened the door, Kim gave up his project.

Political turbulence continues to go

The incident is the youngest in a number of political arguments that South Korea shaked last week. In an unsolved television speech on December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared war law and accused the largest opposition party to carry out sympathetic and "anti-state activities" with North Korea. Dramatic scenes from that night showed security forces who attempted to take windows of the National Assembly building to prevent MPs from gathering.

The law and its consequences

Just six hours after his explanation, the President was forced to step down after MPs had violently made their way through the soldiers to parliament in order to cancel the decree. In the following days, President Yoon is exposed to considerable pressure to resign.

Impeachment and investigation

He survived a vote on Saturday after members of his governing Conservative Party, the People Power Party, left Parliament and boycotted the vote. However, the party leader Han Dong-Hoon insists that Yoon has to step down and explained that the party "will continue to push for the president's decent resignation." The largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, is preparing a new office against Yoon, whose coordination could possibly take place on Saturday.

Further developments

In the meantime, the Ministry of Defense announced that three high -ranking military commanders were suspended due to their alleged role in imposing martial law. Before Kim resigned as Minister of Defense, he said in a message that "all troops who were responsible for the use of martial law acted according to my instructions and that I have all responsibility."

The police have also initiated investigations against Yoon and other high -ranking civil servants for treason. On Tuesday, the MPs approved a special committee to examine whether Yoon committed an uprising and abused his power due to the imposition of martial law. This is a developing story that is continuously updated.