The prosecution arrested Kim as part of an investigation into his alleged involvement in a brief imposition of martial law declared last week by President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Special Investigative Task Force confirmed the arrest and reported the confiscation of Kim’s mobile phone as evidence.
Kim is accused of advising President Yoon to implement martial law, which the president announced late Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, Kim issued a public apology and submitted his resignation, which President Yoon subsequently accepted.
Earlier in the week, an impeachment motion against President Yoon over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law was dropped on Saturday due to a lack of quorum. While this decision allowed the president to remain in office, it has heightened uncertainty about South Korea’s political stability moving forward.
