In the last few hours, there have been several developments related to the attempt to impose martial law in the country. Searches, arrests and even a suicide attempt by a leader were the developments in the last few hours.
Declared on December 3, martial law, the first in over 40 years in South Korea, lasted only about six hours, but it triggered an internal storm that continues to this day.
The president imposed the measure claiming that the opposition was being controlled by "pro-North Korea elements". The opposition accused him of using this argument to control the National Assembly and managed to unanimously cancel the dramatic appeal a few hours later.
Yoon Suk Yeol apologized, but did not escape an impeachment attempt that ended up being boycotted on Saturday, December 7 (and which will be voted on again next Saturday, December 14). New actions again this Wednesday put his position in question.
Searches, arrests and even a suicide attempt
Former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun was officially arrested on Tuesday after several interrogations by police. The leader, who pleaded guilty to martial law shortly after it was lifted, was the first person to be detained in the case, accused of recommending martial law to Yoon and sending troops into the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting on it.
Two top police chiefs have since been arrested for their roles in the brief imposition of martial law last week. South Korean security forces said the commissioner-general of the South Korean Police Agency, Cho Ji-ho, and the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Kim Bong-sik, were being held at the capital's Namdaemun police station.
The two police chiefs are being investigated for their role in sending police into the National Assembly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from entering parliament to lift martial law, which was abruptly announced on the evening of December 3.
Searches of the president's office followed, a week after he announced the controversial law. "Searches of the presidential compound have already begun and we have managed to access the civil service office. However, we have not entered the main building due to access restrictions imposed by presidential security officers," a police spokesman told Agence France-Presse.
Minister pleads guilty, resigns and attempts suicide
Following his arrest, former South Korean defence minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide but failed and is in stable condition. Kim attempted suicide in a detention centre in Seoul shortly before he was formally detained. After the failed suicide attempt, Kim was placed in a special cell and is not in danger of dying, Shin added.
Prosecutors have questioned Kim three times since his initial arrest on Sunday, after he voluntarily appeared to answer questions in the investigation.
Prosecutors have up to 20 days to decide whether to charge Kim or not. A conviction for rebellion carries a maximum penalty of death.
President remains on a tightrope
South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol and his allies are the target of criminal investigations and impeachment attempts. The Justice Ministry has banned Yoon and eight others from leaving the country, as authorities consider them suspects in the martial law case, marking the first time a sitting president in South Korea has been subject to a travel ban.
Although the president has immunity from prosecution while in office, this does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.
Furthermore, South Korea's opposition has scheduled a vote in parliament on a second impeachment motion against the president for Saturday. The vote is scheduled "for December 14 at 5 pm [8 am in Lisbon]", Jo Seung-lae, a member of parliament for the Democratic Party, told the AFP news agency.
