Ex-South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun Arrested on Insurrection Charges Over Martial Law Advice to President Yoon

Dec 8, 2024, 12:07 AM

South Korean prosecutors have arrested former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges of treason and insurrection related to his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk-yeol's December 3 declaration of martial law. Kim, who resigned on December 6 amid rising political turmoil, turned himself in to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on December 7. After six hours of questioning, he was detained due to concerns over possible destruction of evidence. The investigation centers on allegations that Kim advised President Yoon to impose emergency martial law, a move that plunged the country into crisis and led to Yoon narrowly surviving an impeachment vote.