Former South Korean Defence Minister's Suicide Attempt at Detention Center
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Seoul, Dec 11 (NationPress) Former South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun has reportedly attempted to take his own life while being incarcerated at a detention facility on allegations of insurrection. However, he is currently in stable condition, as stated by the justice ministry on Wednesday.
Kim was discovered trying to hang himself using a makeshift rope created from tying together undergarments in a bathroom at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Centre in eastern Seoul at 11:52 p.m. on Tuesday, just moments before a court issued a warrant for his arrest, according to a report by Yonhap news agency citing the ministry.
“An immediate response team was dispatched to restrain him,” the ministry confirmed. “Medical evaluations revealed he was in stable condition with no signs of abnormalities, and he is presently being held under standard conditions.”
Kim was officially arrested early on Wednesday, facing charges of aiding President Yoon Suk Yeol in orchestrating an insurrection through a brief declaration of martial law last week.
Prosecutors believe that the former defence minister suggested the martial law declaration to Yoon and commanded the deployment of military forces to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission's headquarters.
According to law, individuals involved in planning an insurrection could face severe penalties, including death, life imprisonment, or a minimum of five years in prison.
Shin Yong-hae, the commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, mentioned during a parliamentary legislation committee meeting that Kim is being housed in a protective cell following his suicide attempt.
Committee chair Rep. Jung Chung-rai of the main opposition Democratic Party suggested that the former defence minister might have resorted to this drastic action after feeling unfairly targeted by the prosecution, instead of President Yoon, regarding the alleged insurrection.
Justice Minister Park Sung-jae dismissed these claims, stating, “I don’t think so. I lack a basis for this assertion, but someone who attempts suicide likely has a multitude of reasons, and it’s not something I can ascertain.”
Later on Wednesday, Kim was brought in for additional questioning by prosecutors at the detention facility.
