Kim Yong-hyun, a former defence minister and close confidant to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, became the first official to be arrested late on Tuesday over Yoon's martial law declaration.

South Korea’s former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, attempted suicide while in detention over the president's martial law declaration, but officials were able to stop him.

The former minister is in a stable condition now and is being held in a protective cell, he added. Mr Kim was the first person to be detained following president Yoon Suk Yeol 's brief declaration of martial law last week,

Former South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of playing a lead role in the failed imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, has tried to commit suicide inside a detention centre, a justice ministry official told parliament.

South Korea's former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was accused of involvement in a failed martial law attempt, tried to kill himself inside a detention centre, per multiple reports citing a prisons official.