Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol has accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, the presidential office announced on Thursday. This decision comes amidst increasing controversy surrounding Kim’s involvement in Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim had proposed the martial law declaration to President Yoon and subsequently offered his resignation on Wednesday. This followed Yoon’s abrupt declaration of martial law on Tuesday night, which was lifted just hours later after the National Assembly passed a resolution to overturn it.

President Yoon has nominated Choi Byung-hyuk, a retired four-star Army general currently serving as South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, to replace Kim. Chung Jin-suk, Yoon’s chief of staff, introduced Choi during a press briefing, highlighting his extensive experience and understanding of national security. Choi previously served as the deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command from 2019 to 2020.

C
hung emphasized that Choi is seen as an ideal candidate to “fulfill the military’s core responsibilities, including maintaining a firm readiness posture based on the robust South Korea-U.S. alliance.” While all ministers in South Korea undergo a parliamentary confirmation process, only the prime minister’s appointment requires parliamentary approval.

The unexpected declaration of martial law by President Yoon surprised the United States, raising concerns about the alliance between the two countries at a time of increasing security threats from North Korea and its growing military ties with Russia. U.S. officials expressed approval of Yoon’s decision to lift the martial law and reiterated their commitment to maintaining a strong alliance with South Korea.