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.