South Korean Prez replaces defence chief as parliament attempts to impeach him

South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol accepted the resignation of his defence minister Kim Yonghyun on Thursday as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the brief imposition of martial law which deployed armed troops onto Seoul streets AP reportedThe main opposition Democratic Party along with other small opposition parties filed a joint motion to impeach President Yoon on Wednesday over his martial law declaration the following night Martial law was in effect for only six hours as the National Assembly immediately voted to overrule the current president forcing his Cabinet to remove it before the daybreak on WednesdayOn Thursday Yoon elected Choi Byung Hyuk to be the new Defence Minister replacing Kim Yong Hyun Hyuk is a retired fourstar general who is South Koreas ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yoons office said AP reportedYoon did not make any additional comments He has not made any public appearances since announcing in a televised address that his government will lift the martial law decree AP citedThe opposition parties had previously filed a separate motion to impeach Kim alleging that he urged Yoon to adopt martial law On Wednesday Kim offered to quit and apologised for creating public disruption and concernAccording to the Defense Ministry Kim stated that all troops who performed duties related to martial law were acting on my instructions and that he bears full responsibilityYoons impeachment resolution was introduced at a parliamentary plenary session early Thursday which means it might be voted on between Friday and Sunday If the resolution is not voted on within 72 hours of its introduction in Parliament it will be withdrawn by law According to National Assembly officials if the present impeachment motion is dropped or defeated opposition parties may file a new oneThe prospects for Yoons impeachment are unclear as Yoons ruling conservative People Power Party agreed Thursday to reject the proposal Choo Kyungho the PPPs floor leader told reporters that his party would hold another meeting to discuss how to block the motions approval Observers believe PPP members may simply boycott a floor vote or vote against the resolution AP reportedImpeaching him would require the backing of twothirds of the singlechamber National Assembly or 200 of its 300 members The opposition parties collectively own 192 seats and they require additional votes from the PPP Some experts have stated the resolution will likely pass through parliament because 18 PPP legislators who belong to an antiYoon wing in the party had already voted down Yoons martial law together with the opposition lawmakersSpeaking to AP reporters on Thursday PPP leader Han Donghun who leads the antiYoon side stated that he will ensure to prevent the impeachment motion from being passed However he remained critical of Yoons actions describing them as unconstitutional Han emphasized the need to prevent damage to citizens and supporters caused by unprepared chaosExperts say competing factions in the PPP could unite in order to avoid repeating their traumatic experiences during the 2016 impeachment of scandalplagued conservative President Park Geunhye which occurred when some members from her own party voted to impeach her Park was eventually removed from office and jailed in 2017 and liberals comfortably regained the presidency in a byelection while conservatives remained dividedIf Yoon is impeached he will lose his constitutional powers until the Constitutional Court rules Prime Minister Han Ducksoo South Koreas secondhighestranking official would assume presidential powers AP reportedThe impeachment motion against Yoon accuses him of seeking a selfcoup by mobilising the military It also claims Yoons announcement did not meet the constitutional requirement that such moves be taken only in severe crisis situations The motion also claims that his decision to suspend political party operations and deploy the military in an attempt to shut the National Assembly constituted insurrection led to rebellionYoons martial law declaration the first in more than 40 years recalled South Koreas previous militarybacked governments when authorities occasionally declared martial law and other decrees allowing them to station soldiers tanks and armoured vehicles on streets or in public places such as schools to prevent antigovernment demonstrations AP citedUntil Tuesday night and Wednesday morning such scenes of military intervention had not occurred since South Korea won democracy in the late 1980sFollowing Yoons declaration troops in full battle gear including assault rifles attempted to keep demonstrators away from the National Assembly while military helicopters hovered overhead and landed closeIt was unclear how the 190 lawmakers were allowed to enter a legislative floor and vote against Yoons martial law order Opposition Leader Lee JaeMyung and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik were spotted climbing over walls While troops and police officers prevented some from entering they did not violently restrain or use force on others AP reportedWith inputs from AP