South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun resigned on Thursday, the president’s office informed. His resignation comes amid the turmoil over President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets. Yoon appointed Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired four-star general who is South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as the new Defence Minister.
“Today, the President accepted the resignation of Minister of National Defence Kim Yong-hyun and approved his dismissal, and nominated Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Choi Byung-hyuk as the new ministerial candidate,” Yoon’s office said.
Yoon has yet not made any public appearances since he announced in a televised address that his government was lifting the martial law declaration.
Earlier, on Wednesday, South Korea’s main opposition, Democratic Party and other small opposition parties submitted a joint motion to impeach Yoon over his declaration of martial law.
