South Korea Leader Attempts Suicide Using Underwear Over Failed Martial Law

Former Minister of Defence Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center shortly before midnight.

Kim Yong-hyun, the former South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun accused of playing a lead role in the failed imposition of martial law on December 3, tried to commit suicide shortly before he was formally arrested. The defence minister, who resigned last Thursday, had been detained since Sunday. He was formally arrested on Tuesday.

During a parliamentary hearing, the commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service said that Mr Kim tried to kill himself minutes before his arrest was announced.

“Former Minister of Defence Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center” shortly before midnight, an AFP report quoted Shin Yong-hae as saying.

As per the official, Mr Kim had tried to kill himself in the toilet using a string from his clothing.

A Reuters report said the former defence minister used underwear to commit suicide, adding that he was under observation and his life was not currently in danger.

Mr Kim is being investigated on insurrection charges related to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law. He has now been arrested on charges including “engaging in critical duties during an insurrection” and “abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights”, according to a report by AFP.

As per the report, Kim’s formal arrest came amid concerns that evidence might be destroyed. It was determined that the former minister’s alleged offences “fall within the scope of crimes for which the prosecution can initiate an investigation,” a court spokesperson said early Wednesday.

Mr Kim was contrite Tuesday, saying through his lawyers that “all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me”. He also “deeply apologised” to the South Korean people, saying that his subordinates were “merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties”.