Court delays arrest warrant hearing for ex-defense minister

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun speaks during a hearing of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial at the court in Seoul, Jan. 23. Courtesy of the Constitutional Court

A Seoul court said Monday it has delayed an arrest warrant hearing for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun after he sought to recuse a judge, just hours before the hearing had been set to begin.

The Seoul Central District Court announced that it decided to postpone the warrant hearing to 10 a.m. Wednesday considering "various circumstances."

Kim has been under arrest since Dec. 27 and standing trial on charges of insurrection for recommending martial law to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and drafting the decree.

His six-month arrest is set to expire June 26. But last week independent counsel Cho Eun-suk additionally indicted Kim on charges of obstruction of official duties and abetting the destruction of evidence in connection with the martial law imposition.

Earlier in the day, Kim requested the recusal of a judge of the Seoul Central District Court.