Former South Korean Defense Minister Arrested for Alleged Involvement in State of Emergency Declaration

seoul - Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the declaration of a state of emergency, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Kim, who resigned on Wednesday, was considered a key figure in the declaration of the state of emergency last Tuesday. Military sources said he had urged President Yoon Suk-yeol to do so.

An opposition attempt on Saturday to impeach Yoon failed as his party, the PPP, nearly entirely left the parliament before a vote could take place, resulting in insufficient numbers for a valid vote.

However, the opposition seems determined to continue their efforts to remove Yoon from office. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called the president a threat to the country.

New protests have also been announced against the conservative president. Thousands of demonstrators gathered at the parliament on Saturday demanding his resignation.