South Korea arrests former defense minister over emergency decree

(Patria) - South Korean prosecutors arrested former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun this morning for his alleged role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's emergency decree declaration on Tuesday, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing Reuters.

Kim, who offered his resignation on Wednesday, was seen as a central figure in Tuesday's brief emergency decree. A senior military official and impeachment filings against Yoon by opposition members said Kim had made the proposal to Yoon.

Yoon survived a parliamentary impeachment vote on Saturday, spurred by his short-lived attempt to impose emergency rule, but his party leader said the president would eventually have to step down.

The prosecution's special investigation team questioned Kim, who voluntarily appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Sunday, the report said.

Three minority opposition parties filed a complaint with the prosecution against Yoon, Kim and martial law commander Park An-su, accusing them of treason.

Kim faces a travel ban as prosecutors investigate, Yonhap reported. The National Police Agency is also investigating treason allegations against Yoon and top ministers.

Yoon shocked the nation on Tuesday night by giving the military broad emergency powers to eradicate what he called "anti-state forces" and obstructionist political opponents. He withdrew the order six hours later, after parliament defied military and police cordons to vote unanimously against the decree.

Yoon's emergency decree pushed South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key military ally of the United States, into its biggest political crisis in decades, threatening to bring down the reputation of a democratic country.