South Korean police raid presidential office, ex-minister attempts suicide

South Korean police have raided the presidential office as part of an investigation into Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration, while officials told parliament the country’s former defence chief attempted suicide in custody.

The dramatic developments on Wednesday came after authorities earlier arrested former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun and the heads of the national and Seoul metropolitan police agencies over their alleged involvement in President Yoon’s short-lived decree, which has plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy into its biggest political crisis in decades.

Shin Yong-hae, commissioner-general of the Korea Correctional Service, told lawmakers during a parliamentary hearing that correctional officials had stopped Kim during his suicide attempt and that his condition was stable.

Justice minister Park Sung Jae confirmed Kim’s attempt during the same hearing.



Second bid at impeachment

Kim was arrested on insurrection charges on Wednesday after Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant at the request of prosecutors.

“We considered the degree to which the charges are supported, the gravity of the crime and concerns he will destroy evidence,” the court said in issuing the warrant, the state-funded Yonhap news agency reported.

Cho Ji-ho, the commissioner-general of the Korean National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were also arrested on insurrection charges.

Cho and Kim, who were detained without a warrant, can be held for up to 48 hours before they are formally arrested.

The latest developments come as the main liberal opposition Democratic Party is preparing to make a second bid to impeach Yoon over his brief declaration of martial law.