A senior prisons official reported on Wednesday ( Dec. 11 ) that South Korea’s former defense minister attempted suicide shortly before being formally detained over his role in this month’s martial law operation.
Yoon Suk Yeol, the president, imposed martial law on December 3 and sent troops and helicopters to congress, but he was forced to do so after lawmakers rejected it.
Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned last Thursday and was fully detained on Tuesday on suspicion of “abusing of authority to impede the workout of rights” and “engaging in important duties during an rebellion.”
The original minister tried to commit suicide days before his arrest was announced, according to the inspector standard of the Korea Correctional Service during a political reading.
Shortly before midnight ( Tuesday, 3pm GMT ), “former Minister of Defence Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center”, said Shin Yong-hae.
Shin claimed that Kim had attempted suicide in the bathroom using a wire from his attire, adding that he had received the report on Wednesday night.
” A manage room staff member intervened, and when they opened the door, he immediately gave up the attempt”, said Shin.