South Korean defense minister resigns following row over martial law

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Dec 4 stepped down following turmoil triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief declaration of martial law.

"Today, the President accepted the resignation of Minister of National Defense 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 on Dec 5.

After accepting the resignation, President Yoon nominated the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Choi Byung-hyuk as the new defense minister.

Kim, who played a key role in implementing martial law, submitted his resignation on December 4.

Reports suggest that a senior military official and opposition leaders filing for President Yoon’s impeachment claimed it was Kim who recommended martial law to Yoon.

Yoon's chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, called Choi "a person of principle who carries out his duties with dedication and adheres to regulations".

The nomination of a new defense minister is President Yoon's first official act since revoking the declaration of martial law in the early hours of Dec 3.

The reversal sent hundreds of South Korean troops, who had briefly stormed into the National Assembly compound in Seoul, back to their barracks.

Hundreds of South Korean troops, who had briefly entered the National Assembly compound in Seoul, retreated to their barracks after the announcement of the reversal.

Following the public outrage over the imposition of martial law condemnation of Yoon by opposition parties, South Korea's Parliament introduced a motion early on Dec 5 to impeach the president.

Meanwhile, the country's main opposition Democratic Party has called Yoon's martial law attempt a treasonous act. It is expected that its lawmakers could lead a vote for the bill as early as Dec 6.

The US said that Yoon's martial law declaration, completely caught them off guard, which Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said was "badly misjudged."