South Korean prosecutors made a significant move on Sunday by detaining former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who allegedly recommended the imposition of martial law to President Yoon Suk Yeol. This detention marks the first arrest in connection with last week’s brief but impactful martial law declaration. The development came just a day after Yoon narrowly avoided impeachment in parliament, as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote to suspend his presidential powers.
Kim Yong Hyun voluntarily appeared at a Seoul prosecutors’ office on Sunday, where he was detained and had his mobile phone confiscated. Reports indicate that he was then moved to a Seoul detention center, while authorities conducted searches at his former office and residence. This detention signals a significant escalation in the investigation into the martial law incident.
The Defense Ministry announced the acceptance of Kim’s resignation offer on Thursday following the opposition’s impeachment motion against him. Kim played a central role in Yoon’s martial law enforcement, which saw special forces troops surrounding the National Assembly building and army helicopters hovering overhead. The military eventually withdrew after parliament unanimously voted to overturn Yoon’s decree.
In response to the situation, Chief Prosecutor Park Se-hyun stated that a 62-member team is conducting a thorough investigation into the martial law incident to address any suspicions. The opposition parties accused Kim of proposing martial law to Yoon, with Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho confirming that Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly.
Yoon issued an apology over the martial law declaration on Saturday, expressing his willingness to take legal and political responsibility for the incident. The Defense Ministry suspended three top military commanders allegedly involved in the martial law imposition, as calls for transparency in the investigation grew.
The ruling party and opposition are at odds over the handling of the situation, with the ruling party aiming for an early and orderly exit for Yoon from office, while the opposition insists on his immediate impeachment. The political turmoil in South Korea has attracted international attention, with concerns raised by key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on the legal and political implications of the martial law incident and its aftermath. The calls for accountability and transparency in the investigation continue to drive the discourse in South Korean politics, as the nation grapples with the fallout from the unprecedented martial law declaration.
