South Korea defence minister resigns, takes responsibility for turmoil from martial law declaration

South Korean defence minister Kim Yong Hyun has resigned amid controversy surrounding his role in the shock martial law declaration in the country on Dec. 3.

Seen as central figure in martial law declaration

Kim was seen as a central figure in President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, and apparently proposed the idea to Yoon, sources told Reuters.

Kim tendered his resignation on Dec. 4 evening, according to Korean news outlets.

"I have offered my will to resign to the president, taking responsibility for all the turmoil caused by the emergency martial law," Kim said in a media statement.

President Yoon accepted Kim's resignation and nominated former army general Choi Byung Hyuk, as the new defence minister, Yonhap News Agency (Yonhap) reported.

Choi is currently serving as the country's ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Motion tabled to impeach president

Opposition parties have also tabled a motion to impeach the president, which has been signed by 191 opposition lawmakers, and will be put to a vote in parliament on Dec. 8, The Korea Herald reported.

It will require at least eight ruling party lawmakers voting alongside to be passed.

The martial law turmoil in South Korea has resulted in a series of diplomatic disruptions, including the cancellation of defence talks with Kazakhstan, Yonhap reported.

Notably, it has also unfolded in the same week that the Russia-North Korea security pact comes into play, and will be watched closely across the border, according to Al Jazeera.

Background

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared "emergency martial law" on Dec. 3, 2024 in a surprise televised briefing.

Yoon had said that it was intended to protect the country from North Korean communist forces, and to eliminate anti-state elements, reported the BBC.

It was the first time martial law had been declared since 1980.

After Yoon's declaration, military and police forces were deployed to the country's National Assembly building.

Despite this, 190 parliamentarians managed to enter the building, and voted in the early hours of Dec. 4 to repeal Yoon's declaration.

President Yoon lifted martial law on Dec. 4 following the unanimous vote by South Korea's National Assembly.

It had been in effect for approximately six hours in total.

Yoon's decision was criticised by Lee Jae Myung, the leader of South Korea's opposition Democratic Party (DP) and Yoon's own party leader, Han Dong Hoon.

Many of Yoon's senior staff and secretaries from the People Power Party have since voluntarily offered to resign en masse, following the decision, Yonhap reported.

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Top image from Ppodag/Wikipedia and @intelligencefnt/X