South Korean President Chun Seok-cheol accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Jong-hyun on Thursday. An impeachment motion was filed against the minister as well as against the previous president. Martial law was declared in the country on Tuesday and lifted six hours later.
Jun's impeachment motion was introduced during a plenary session that began after midnight local time Wednesday to Thursday (around 4pm on Wednesday in Poland). By law, an impeachment vote must take place within 24 to 72 hours.
The document describes “serious and widespread violations of the Constitution and the law.” As indicated, the imposition of martial law was “not for security reasons, but to avoid an investigation into criminal charges against President Jun and his family.”
South Korea. They want to impeach the Minister of Defense
The main opposition party, led by the Democratic Party, is also calling for the impeachment of Defense Minister Kim Jong-hyun for advising the president to declare martial law.
On Thursday, Chun accepted Kim's resignation and appointed Choji Bi-joon Hyuk, a retired four-star general and current South Korean ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as his successor.
See also: South Korea introduces martial law
Kim announced his resignation and expressed regret for his actions and for bringing the military to the streets. “All soldiers who performed their duties under martial law acted according to my instructions, and all responsibility rests with me,” Kim said, according to a Defense Ministry statement.
As the Associated Press writes, impeachment against the president is unlikely because the president's ruling People Power Party has announced that it will not support the motion.
martial law in korea
Jun declared martial law on Tuesday night local time and announced the “elimination of anti-national forces,” accusing them of paralyzing government work and sympathizing with communist North Korea. The military issued a decree banning political activities, parliamentary and political party activities, and imposing controls on the media by martial law administrative staff.
At 01:16 local time (compiled at 17:16 in Poland), the National Assembly voted to lift martial law, invalidating President Yoon Seok-yol's decision. Hours later, Reuters reported that South Korean President Yun Seok-Yeol announced that he would act on the will of Congress.
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