THE former defence minister of South Korea was stopped from attempting suicide while in detention following last week’s imposition of martial law, officials said.

The suicide attempt by Kim Yong Hyun came as police were blocked from searching President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office today in their investigation.

Shin Yong Hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, told lawmakers today that Mr Kim tried to kill himself the previous night at a detention centre in Seoul. 

He said the suicide attempt failed after centre officials stopped him and that he is in a stable condition now.

Mr Kim is the first person formally arrested over the martial law decree.

Meanwhile, South Korean police said today that security guards were blocking a raid on President Yoon’s offices to investigate his involvement in the imposition of martial law on December 3.

Mr Yoon is already banned from foreign travel.

Police said earlier that a Special Investigation Team “has conducted a raid” on the presidential office, on different police agencies and on the National Assembly Security Service.

But later a spokesperson said that investigators had “gained access to its civil services office. However, we are currently unable to enter the main building due to access restrictions imposed by the presidential security guards.”

The president’s office was not immediately available for comment.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party repeated today that it plans to submit a new motion to impeach Mr Yoon.

Its first impeachment attempt against President Yoon last Saturday failed, with ruling party lawmakers boycotting a vote.

Vice-defence Minister Kim Seon Ho confirmed today that President Yoon remains in charge of the military.

But the president has reportedly not been involved in any major official activities since lifting martial law, except for accepting resignation offers by officials involved in the martial law case and appointing the head of the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.