South Korean president's office raided, ex-defence minister attempts suicide before arrest
Topic:Government and Politics
6m ago6 minutes agoWed 11 Dec 2024 at 3:40am
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech from behind an official lectern.
South Korean police have raided the offices of President Yoon Suk Yeol. (Reuters: The Presidential Office)
In short:
South Korean police have raided the presidential office as part of an ongoing investigation into the declaration of martial law.
The former defence minister, who is accused of playing a lead role in the martial law operation, attempted suicide before he was arrested.
The commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency and the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency have also been arrested.
South Korean police say they have raided President Yoon Sook Yeol's office, as the investigation into his declaration of martial law gathers pace.
WARNING: This article contains references to mental health and suicide.
"The Special Investigation Team has conducted a raid on the presidential office, the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the National Assembly Security Service," the unit stated in a message sent to AFP.
Mr Yoon is already under a travel ban as part of an "insurrection" probe into his inner circle after his short-lived suspension of civilian rule on December 3.
The president is the subject of criminal investigation on insurrection charges over his short-lived imposition of martial law but he has not been arrested or questioned by authorities.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said he blamed himself for failing to stop the emergency martial law, news agency Newsis reported on Wednesday.
Mr Yoon rescinded the martial law 6 hours later, after parliament voted against it.
Ex-defence minister suicide attempt
A man wearing glasses and a suit speaks into a mic standing in front of a flag
Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun is accused of playing a lead role in the failed imposition of martial law. (Reuters: Leah Millis/File Photo)
Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun was formally arrested late on Tuesday on multiple charges including the "abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights".
On Wednesday, Yonhap reported that Mr Kim had attempted to kill himself shortly before the arrest.
A spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court told AFP earlier in the day that Mr Kim had been arrested amid concerns that evidence might be destroyed.
Mr 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".
Mr 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.
The operation saw troops and helicopters sent to parliament in an apparent — but failed — attempt to prevent members of parliament from voting down Mr Yoon's martial law declaration.
Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were also arrested early on Wednesday, police said.
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Posted6m ago6 minutes agoWed 11 Dec 2024 at 3:40am
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