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\nSouth Korea\u2019s former defense minister tried to kill himself shortly before he was formally arrested over his role in this month\u2019s martial law operation, a senior prisons official said Wednesday.
President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3 and sent soldiers and helicopters to parliament but was forced to rescind the decree hours later after lawmakers voted it down.
Defense minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned last Thursday and was formally arrested Tuesday on charges including \u201cengaging in critical duties during an insurrection\u201d and \u201cabuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights\u201d.
During a parliamentary hearing, the commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service said the former minister tried to kill himself minutes before his arrest was announced.
Shortly before midnight (1500 GMT Tuesday), \u201cformer Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center,\u201d said Shin Yong-hae.
Adding that he received the report Wednesday morning, Shin said Kim had tried to kill himself in the toilet using a string from his clothing.
\u201cA control room staff member intervened, and when they opened the door, he immediately gave up the attempt,\u201d said Shin.
Shin added that Kim was now under protection in a secure cell and in good health.
\u201cThe medical examination results indicate that the inmate\u2019s health status is good without any abnormalities, and he is currently living a normal life in the facility,\u201d the justice ministry said in a statement sent to AFP.
Kim had issued an apology on Tuesday, saying through his lawyers that \u201call responsibility for this situation lies solely with me\u201d.
He \u201cdeeply apologized\u201d to the South Korean people and said that his subordinates were \u201cmerely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties\u201d.<\/p>\n