Former Defense Minister of South Korea Kim Yong-hyun has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the declaration of a state of emergency that plunged the country into chaos earlier this week, local media reported on Sunday.
Kim had already resigned as a result of the fact that the president Yoon Suk-yeol late on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in the country. However, Yoon had to withdraw his order just a few hours later after the parliament voted to revoke the state of emergency. The police have now launched an investigation into Yoon and others involved as suspects in the rebellion.
South Korean news agency Yonhap and other local media reported Sunday morning that the prosecutor’s office has yet to comment on Kim’s arrest.
The criminal charge against President Yoon was defeated in a parliamentary vote on Saturday. The failure of the criminal charges was a disappointment to the anti-Yoon crowds who demonstrated outside the parliament.
South Korea’s opposition has announced that it will continue to press charges against the president.
Sources: AFP, Reuters