South Korean prosecutors arrested former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun early Sunday for his alleged role in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration, Yonhap News Agency reported, as fallout from the political crisis continues to spread.
Kim, who resigned Wednesday, was questioned after voluntarily appearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office around 1:30 a.m. Military officials and opposition filings identified him as the key figure who proposed the martial law declaration to Yoon. National police later raided Kim’s office as part of an expanding investigation into treason allegations against top officials.
The arrest comes despite Yoon surviving an impeachment vote Saturday, though ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon announced the president would be “effectively excluded from his duties” before an eventual departure from office. Han planned to meet with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo Sunday to discuss managing state affairs.
Three opposition parties filed criminal complaints against Yoon, Kim, and martial law commander Park An-su, accusing them of insurrection – a charge punishable by death or life imprisonment. Opposition lawmakers alleged Yoon deployed military forces to block parliament from voting against his decree.
The crisis began Tuesday when Yoon declared martial law to combat alleged “anti-state forces,” giving the military sweeping powers. He rescinded the order six hours later after parliament unanimously rejected it despite military and police cordons. In a Saturday television address, Yoon apologized but stopped short of resigning, saying he would accept legal and political responsibility.
