Former South Korean Defense Minister Attempted Suicide

"Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide on the night of December 10 in a detention center in eastern Seoul, where he was being held for investigation on charges of rebellion related to martial law," the Korean Correctional Service said on December 11.

Shin Yong-hae, director of the Justice Ministry's Bureau of Rehabilitation, told the National Assembly that at around 11:52 p.m., staff at the control room, which monitors the prison through security cameras, discovered the suspect attempting to commit suicide in the bathroom, using his underwear and undershirt to form a long strip. The incident occurred before the court issued an official arrest warrant for him.

"Mr. Kim gave up as soon as the prison guards ran there and broke down the door," Shin said. The former minister was moved to a "protective cell" and is in stable condition.

Justice Minister Park Sung-jae said he received the news from Mr. Shin this morning and has not yet determined what prompted Mr. Kim to attempt suicide.

Mr. Kim Yong-hyun, 65 years old, is said to have proposed that President Yoon declare martial law and directed military units to storm the National Assembly and National Election Commission buildings.

Mr. Kim told the prosecution that he was the one who drafted the martial law decree and that President Yoon later reviewed it and requested some changes. On the night of martial law, the President ordered the arrest of a number of politicians, including leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties.

Prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Mr. Kim on charges of "conspiring with President Yoon to incite rebellion with the aim of overthrowing the Constitution."