South Korea: Ex-Defence Minister Arrested After President Yoon Survives Martial Law Impeachment

South Korea: Kim Jong-hyun, the South Korean defense minister who resigned this week for a short while due to the declaration of martial law in the country, was arrested because of his involvement in the declaration that had surrounded troops around Parliament and brought these to Seoul streets.

A shock late-night announcement by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Wednesday, claiming the opposition was threatening the democracy and national stability of the country.

The dramatic declaration just happened to be the first martial law declared in South Korea in more than four decades, and it even brought panic at home and abroad as the soldiers surrounded the Parliament there.

Less than 24 hours saw Yoon reverse his stance on the matter due to very quick condemnation from the National Assembly and the massive protests from the public; martial law was in force just for about six hours from about 10:30 pm to 4:30 am local time.

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The next day saw South Korea's president accepting the resignation of his defense minister as opposition parties moved to impeach together the two men who were responsible for the martial laws very short-lived action.

In a latest twist, however, local news channels aired on Sunday that former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun was under arrest on charges connected to the martial law declaration.

Kim Yong-hyun is reportedly restricted from traveling while the prosecutors conduct investigations, YTN broadcasted on Thursday.

South Korea's defense ministry on Friday suspended three senior commanders overseeing the martial-law operation that saw troops deployed to parliament.

"The Ministry of Defence has executed the separation and suspension of duties for three key position holders ... related to the current situation as of December 6," the ministry said in a statement.

The push to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol by the South Korean legislature over his brief imposition of martial law fell through on Saturday after the vote was boycotted by most lawmakers from his conservative ruling party.

As expected, the failure of the motion will heighten public protests demanding the ouster of Yoon and further claimant to political chaos in South Korea, according to a survey showing that most South Koreans support the impeachment of the president by a news agency PTI report.

Yoon's martial law declaration is adversely viewed by his own ruling conservative party. Still, it is destined to oppose his impeachment, apparently fearing to lose the presidency to liberals.

Impeaching Yoon required support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The opposition parties who brought the impeachment motion had 192 seats, but only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn't reach 200.

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National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result "very regrettable" and an embarrassing moment for the country's democracy that has been closely watched by the world.

“The failure to hold a qualified vote on this matter means we were not even able to exercise the democratic procedure of deciding on a critical national issue,” he said.

Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next week.

There are worries that Yoon may not complete the remaining 2 ½ years in office because the leadership has suffered a big blow.

Many experts say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties' efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further.

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