South Korean Prosecutors Arrest Ex-Defence Minister Kim Yong-Hyun Over Martial Law Role

South Korea's former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, was arrested on Sunday (8 December) for his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration earlier in the week, according to Yonhap News Agency.

President Yoon narrowly escaped impeachment on Saturday after his brief martial law declaration earlier in the week.

However, his party leader announced that Yoon would soon relinquish his duties and step down.

Han Dong-hoon, the ruling party leader, is set to to meet with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

Kim had tendered his resignation on Wednesday and is viewed as a key figure behind the martial law decree.

Opposition members and a senior military official alleged in their impeachment filings that Kim proposed the measure to President Yoon.

Prosecutors questioned Kim after he voluntarily reported to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office early Sunday at around 1:30 am local time (1630 GMT on Saturday).

Three minority opposition parties have filed a complaint accusing Yoon, Kim, and martial law commander Park An-su of insurrection.

Under South Korean law, if convicted, the crime of leading an insurrection is punishable by death or life imprisonment, with or without prison labour.

Opposition lawmakers accused President Yoon of deploying military forces to obstruct their vote to nullify the martial law decree, which they claimed was unconstitutional.

The South Korean National police raided Kim’s office on Sunday as part of an investigation into allegations of treason involving President Yoon and senior ministers, news agency Yonhap reported.

In a televised speech on Saturday, President Yoon apologised for his martial law order, saying he would not avoid legal and political responsibilities for his action, though he did not offer to resign.

Yoon said he would put his fate in the hands of the ruling party, which Ruling Party leader Han Dong-hoon later said was effectively a promise to leave office early.

Han stated that Yoon would be "effectively excluded from his duties" and added that the party would coordinate with the prime minister to oversee governance.

Yoon on Tuesday night granted the military extensive emergency powers to target "anti-state forces" and obstructionist political opponents.

He rescinded the order six hours later, after parliament defied military and police cordons to vote unanimously against the decree.

The martial law announcement has thrown South Korea, a key US ally and Asia's fourth-largest economy, into a severe political crisis, jeopardising its standing as a democratic success story.

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