accepted the resignation of his defense minister Thursday as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning yet short-lived imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets.
The main opposition Democratic Party and other small opposition parties submitted a joint motion to on Wednesday over his martial law declaration the previous night. lasted about six hours, as the National Assembly quickly voted to overrule the president, forcing his Cabinet to it before daybreak Wednesday.
On Thursday, Yoon replaced Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired four-star general who is South Korea鈥檚 ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yoon's office said.
It didn't provide any further comments by Yoon. He hasn't made any public appearances since he announced in a televised address that his government was lifting the martial law declaration.
The opposition parties earlier submitted a separate motion to impeach Kim, alleging he recommended Yoon impose martial law. On Wednesday, Kim offered to resign and apologized for causing disruption and concern to the public. Kim said 鈥渁ll troops who performed duties related to martial law were acting on my instructions, and all responsibility lies with me,鈥� according to the Defense Ministry.
The impeachment motion on Yoon was introduced at a parliamentary plenary session early Thursday, meaning it can be put to a vote between Friday and Sunday. By law, the motion will be scrapped if it isn鈥檛 voted within 72 hours of its parliamentary introduction. Opposition parties can submit a new impeachment motion if the current one is scrapped or voted down, according to National Assembly officials.
Prospects for Yoon鈥檚 impeachment isn鈥檛 clear as Yoon鈥檚 ruling conservative People Power Party decided Thursday to oppose the motion鈥檚 passage. Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the PPP, told reporters that his party would hold another meeting to determine how to oppose the motion鈥檚 passage. Observers say PPP members could simply boycott a floor vote or cast ballots against the motion.
Hyung-jin Kim And Kim Tong-hyung, The Associated Press
