Ex-South Korean defense Minister arrested over martial law probe

South Korea's former Defence Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, has been arrested on Sunday as prosecutors investigated his role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's decision last week to impose martial law, The New York Times reported.

- TBG NETWORK

Yoon's decision caused political upheaval in South Korea, including an opposition-led attempt to impeach South Korea's President and protests.

Kim is the first person to be arrested as prosecutors start their probe into allegations made by Yoon's political opponents.

The opposition has asserted that Yoon and his followers in the government and military conducted insurrection and other crimes when they sent soldiers and police personnel into the National Assembly to seize the legislature shortly after South Korea's President imposed martial law last week, according to The New York Times report.

Kim, who surrendered himself to investigators on Sunday, was arrested without a court warrant.