An Unabated Fury

South Korea’s authorities attempted to raid President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office Wednesday, arrested two senior police officials, and announced that the former defense minister had attempted suicide in detention, the latest fallout from Yoon’s attempt to implement martial law earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Last week, Yoon invoked martial law during a nationally televised address, saying the country was vulnerable to North Korean “communist forces” because of the “den of thieves” blocking laws and impeaching officials in his administration.

While the measure only lasted six hours, it has sparked widespread public protests, legal scrutiny, and calls for Yoon’s impeachment. One attempt by lawmakers failed last week but the opposition, which holds a majority, is trying to make a second attempt. Meanwhile, the president said earlier in the week he would step down voluntarily, France 24 reported.

Even so, on Wednesday, he appeared defiant: In a pre-recorded address, he said, “I will fight to the end,” implying that he would not resign voluntarily.

On Tuesday, South Korean officials announced that former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun – who resigned after the martial law crisis – attempted to hang himself at the detention center where he is being held on charges of insurrection and abuse of power.

Kim was arrested Sunday after voluntarily appearing for questioning. He is accused of proposing the martial law plan to Yoon, which sought to curb political activity, suppress media freedoms, and impose restrictions on health services. Officials are exploring whether they can bring similar charges for Yoon.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, South Korean police arrested National Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho and Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik for allegedly ordering officers to block lawmakers from entering the country’s parliament, the National Assembly, for a vote on overturning Yoon’s martial law decree, ABC News noted.

Both individuals face insurrection charges, and the arrests come just days after the officials –and also the president – were placed under a travel ban.

On Wednesday, police also conducted a raid on Yoon’s presidential office but faced resistance from his security team.

Meanwhile, across the border, North Korean state media, which had been quiet during the turmoil in South Korea, mocked the crisis as a “shocking incident” of the “puppet Yoon Suk Yeol regime,” accusing it of bringing chaos through a “fascist dictatorship.”

Yoon, who is halfway through his five-year term, earlier this week apologized for his decision to implement martial law. Regardless, Yoon’s approval rating has plummeted to 13 percent, with three-quarters of South Koreans supporting his removal.

The crisis has paralyzed South Korea’s government and raised concerns internationally about the stability of a key US ally and Asia’s fourth-largest economy.