Embattled S. Korea prez replaces defense chief
SEOUL—South Korea’s president replaced 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 impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday over his martial law declaration the previous night.
Martial law lasted about six hours, as the National Assembly quickly voted to overrule the president, forcing his Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday.
Martial law
On Thursday, Yoon’s office said he decided to replace defense minister Kim Yong-hyun with Choi Byung-hyuk, a retired four-star general who is South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
The opposition parties earlier submitted a separate motion to impeach Kim, alleging he recommended that Yoon impose martial law.
Kim had offered to resign and apologized for causing disruption and concern to the public.
Kim said “all troops who performed duties related to martial law were acting on my instructions, and all responsibility lies with me,” according to the Defense Ministry.
‘Coup’
The impeachment motion against Yoon was introduced in parliament early Thursday, meaning it can be put to a vote between Friday and Sunday.
It will be scrapped if it isn’t voted within 72 hours of its parliamentary introduction, but a new motion can be submitted if the current one is scrapped.
The Democratic Party said it will push for a National Assembly vote on the impeachment motion on Saturday evening.
On Friday, the Democrats and other opposition lawmakers voted to impeach Choi Jae-hae, chair of the country’s board of audit and inspection, and three top public prosecutors, including Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office chief Lee Chang-soo.
The four will be suspended from their duties until the Constitutional Court rules whether to remove them from office.
