South Korean President Yun Seok-Yeol on Thursday accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, despite criticism calling for his resignation over Tuesday's cancellation of plans to impose martial law.
Kim reportedly proposed the ill-fated declaration of martial law to Yoon, who stunned the world and threw Seoul into chaos. giving orders local time Tuesday night. The National Assembly, South Korea's parliament, barricaded itself in its chambers against Yoon's orders. vote Martial law will be lifted within hours.
Yun declared martial law entirely for the benefit of the North Korean Communist Army, claiming that “anti-national subversive elements” had infiltrated Congress, paralyzed the government, and obstructed its policies. Because of that. He deployed police and military forces around the Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting.
Yoon also accused the opposition Democratic Party of Japan of cutting funding for police and courts in order to block an investigation into leader Lee Jae-myung. Meanwhile, the Democratic Progressive Party accused Yun of imposing martial law to prevent investigations into high-ranking People Power Party (PPP) officials, including himself and his wife.
Kim is the first person close to Yoon to tender his resignation. There were rumors in Seoul that other senior government officials might also resign, but so far none have.
Mr. Yoon's chief of staff, Jeong Jin-seok, said at a press conference Thursday morning. introduced Retired four-star general Choi Byung-hyuk has been appointed as the new defense minister. Choi served as deputy commander of the US-ROK Combined Forces from 2019 to 2020.
South Korean civil society groups on Thursday called Yoon's resignation also includes members of the Korea Democratic Labor Union Confederation (Korea Democratic Labor Union), one of South Korea's largest labor organizations.
Protesters took to the streets of Seoul on Thursday holding banners declaring the revocation of martial law a “victory for democracy” and demanding the “immediate arrest” of “the traitor Yoon Seok-yeol and his accomplices.” marched.
“President Yoon, who set the clock back in the Republic of Korea 44 years ago, must be overthrown and made to pay for the horrific 155 minutes,'' the protesters chanted. The last time martial law was declared in South Korea was 44 years ago, when the government was authoritarian.
Democratic Progressive Party leaders stopped short of formally demanding Yun's arrest, but insisted that Yun's martial law had “completely destroyed the spirit of the Constitution” and called for him to step down as president. did.
Five members of Yun's PPP party on Thursday proposed They proposed a constitutional amendment to shorten the presidential term, which they presented as an “orderly solution” to the political crisis.
“This is an essential step to prevent political paralysis and national division due to impeachment,'' the five PPP lawmakers said.
The five people asked Yoon to “sincerely apologize to the people'' and demanded “a prompt investigation and punishment of all those responsible for the incident.''
“The president has inflicted indelible scars on a people who have endured the trauma of a history of democratic suppression and human rights violations. Any justification from the president or the ruling party justifies this declaration of martial law. “We cannot,” they said.
The five said they had not yet decided whether to support the impeachment resolution submitted by the opposition Democratic Party.
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, Thursday said He called on President Yoon to leave the party, but also said he would block the Democratic Progressive Party's impeachment motion, tentatively scheduled for a vote on Saturday.
The Democratic Progressive Party has a large majority in the National Assembly, but if Mr. Han can unite all but a few Democratic Progressive Party members, he will be able to prevent impeachment. Even if the impeachment bill is passed, it will need approval from the South Korean Constitutional Court before it can take effect.
Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People's Power Party, declared on Thursday, “All 108 members of the People's Power Party will continue to unite to reject the impeachment of the president.''
The Democratic Progressive Party also filed criminal charges against Yun, several cabinet ministers, and police officials who followed martial law on suspicion of “rebellion.” If convicted, the punishment for sedition could be life in prison or the death penalty.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said On Wednesday, Yin's attempt to impose martial law “raised deep concerns” in the US government and “sounded alarm bells everywhere” around the world.
Sullivan praised South Korean lawmakers for acting “in accordance with constitutional procedures and procedures” to overturn Yoon's order.
“South Korea's democracy is strong and resilient, and we will continue to speak out publicly and engage informally to emphasize the importance of continuing South Korea's democracy.” he said.
