Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been arrested for his alleged involvement in declaring a military state of emergency. Although Kim had previously resigned, he now faces potential criminal charges.
He is considered a key figure in Tuesday’s declaration of the state of emergency, reportedly encouraging President Yoon Suk-yeol to take this action. According to Yonhap News Agency, police have searched Kim’s office, and he, Yoon, and several ministers are accused of treason.
Following Yoon’s emergency declaration, chaos erupted in South Korea as the military initially blocked the parliament building in Seoul, where a vote was to be held to overturn the state of emergency. Eventually, most parliament members entered and voted to rescind the state of emergency, which Yoon revoked the same evening.
Yoon believed the opposition, which holds a parliamentary majority, was obstructing governance. By declaring martial law, he sidelined the parliament.
The opposition demands Yoon’s impeachment, but he remains in office as his party, the PPP, exited the parliament before the impeachment vote, preventing a quorum for a valid vote. Yoon apologized in a televised speech, stating he would not abandon his legal and political responsibilities but has no intention of resigning.
Source: NOS