The head of the Korea Correctional Service says former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted to kill himself Tuesday night.

Speaking to the parliamentary legislation committee on Wednesday, Korea Correctional Service Commissioner General Shin Yong-hae said the former defense chief tried to take his life in the bathroom Tuesday night.

Kim was in a waiting room at the time of the incident, before the court issued a pretrial detention warrant for him. 
 
The corrections chief said Kim has no significant health issues at this point. 

The former defense minister was placed behind bars Tuesday night, becoming the first person to be formally incarcerated over the martial law debacle.

The prosecution suspects Kim of conspiring with President Yoon Suk Yeol and others to incite an insurrection with the intent of undermining the Constitution.