South Korean interior minister Lee Sang-min on Thursday said that the former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun suggested imposing martial law decree to President Yoon Suk Yeol.
This came after the presidential office announced that President Yoon Suk Yeol had selected Choi Byung-huk replacing Kim Yong-Hyun as the defence minister.
Opposition parties had earlier submitted a motion to impeach defense minister Kim, accusing him of advising President Yoon to impose martial law.
On Wednesday, Kim offered his resignation and expressed regret for the public disruption caused, taking full responsibility for the actions of the military. He stated, “All troops involved in the martial law duties were acting under my instructions, and the responsibility rests entirely with me,” according to the Defense Ministry.
Meanwhile, an impeachment motion against Yoon was presented at a parliamentary plenary session early Thursday. A vote on the proposed impeachment is set to take place in the South Korean parliament on Saturday at approximately 7pm (local time), according to Yonhap News Agency.
President Yoon declared martial law on late Tuesday, citing North Korea’s ongoing threats and the presence of “anti-state forces” as justification.
Over 280 military personnel, including troops transported by helicopter, were deployed to secure South Korea’s parliament building.
Yoon had defended the declaration as essential for “protecting a liberal South Korea” from the dangers posed by North Korea’s communist regime and to eradicate anti-state elements.