Although he survived the attempt and is reported to be stable, it has intensified political crisis amid ongoing tensions with the Opposition.
Former South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide while in custody after being arrested in connection with the controversial martial law decree. He survived the attempt and is now in stable condition, the Associated Press reported.
The commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, Shin Yong Hae, confirmed the incident on Wednesday. He told lawmakers that Kim tried to take his own life at a detention center in Seoul. He added that the suicide attempt was unsuccessful. According to him, Kim is now stable.
Kim's arrest came earlier the same day after a Seoul court issued a warrant for his detention. He is accused of playing a key role in a rebellion and abusing his power. His arrest marks the first legal action taken in connection with the December 3 martial law decree.
The martial law declaration has sparked a controversy. Opposition parties and many experts argue that it is unconstitutional. They argue that a president is only permitted to declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states", but none of which was applied to South Korea at the time.
They also say that deploying military forces to seal the National Assembly and suspend its political activities amounts to rebellion. The South Korean Constitution prohibits the use of the military to suspend parliament under any circumstances.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, in his martial law announcement, emphasised the need to rebuild the country by eliminating “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces".
He referred to his liberal rivals who control the National Assembly. Yoon - Since taking office in 2022 - has faced near-constant friction with the Democratic Party, which has introduced motions to impeach some of his top officials and launched a political offensive over scandals involving Yoon and his wife.
He narrowly avoided impeachment last Saturday when most governing party MPs boycotted a vote in the National Assembly. If Yoon were impeached, his presidential powers would be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to restore them or remove him from office. If he were dismissed, a new presidential election would be required.