Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun attempts suicide at Seoul detention center
Protesters hold a massive rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on Dec. 7, calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s ouster after his martial law attempt. Police on Wednesday attempted to raid his office as part of an insurrection investigation following his failed Dec. 2 martial law declaration. Police were blocked from entering the presidential office by secret service personnel. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
With South Korean Presdient Yoon Suk Yeol showing no indications of resigning following his failed attempt at imposing martial law, police Wednesday raided the presidential office.
But police were stymied in the raid by South Korea’s presidential secret service officers who blocked them from entering Yoon’s office. Advertisement
They faced off in an intensifying constitutional crisis for South Korea over Yoon’s martial law declaration Dec. 2.
The martial law declaration lasted just six hours after the National Assembly, bolstered by citizens protesting the declaration, voted to end it.
Wednesday raids were also being conducted at the offices of the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the National Assembly Police Guards.
The police are investigating insurrection charges against Yoon.
He could become the first South Korean president arrested on criminal charges while in office.
Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide Tuesday night at a Seoul detention center after being arrested in the martial law declaration investigation. He was reported in stable condition, according to Shin Yong Hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service.
Lawmakers in the National Assembly attempted to impeach Yoon over the martial law declaration, but his political party defended him against it. Advertisement
An emergency task force of lawmakers want Yoon gone by February or March. Task force head Lee Yang-soo told reporters, “We don’t know how long it will take to persuade him.”
Yoon is barred from leaving South Korea as the investigation unfolds.
His political party said he was effectively suspended from duty and they are working with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to keep government operating.
On Tuesday the National Assembly voted 210-63 to name a special counsel to investigate Yoon’s martial law declaration.
