South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and nominated Choi Byung-hyuk, the country’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, to take over as the new defence minister, the presidential office confirmed on Thursday.
Kim, who stepped down on Wednesday, played a pivotal role in Yoon’s declaration of martial law on Tuesday. Senior military officials and opposition members, who have initiated impeachment proceedings against Yoon, indicated that Kim had advised the president to implement the martial law.
Yoon’s chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, praised Choi Byung-hyuk as “a principled individual who performs his duties diligently and follows regulations.”
This nomination is Yoon’s first official move after he retracted the martial law declaration early Wednesday, in the midst of significant political chaos and international backlash.
On Thursday, a motion to impeach Yoon was introduced in Parliament due to his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law. However, his party has promised to oppose the motion, leaving the outcome uncertain.
