Defense Minister Resigns over Martial Law Decree

President Yoon Suk Yeol has accepted the resignation of Defense Minister who advised the President to declare Martial Law on the night of 3rd December.

On Wednesday, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun offered to resign to take responsibility for the President’s Martial Law order and the developments that followed.

Kim was scheduled to attend a parliamentary defense committee meeting and answer questions about martial law.

The president nominated Choi Byung-hyuk, a retired General and the current Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as the New Defense Minister.

The top office explained that having served as the deputy commander of the South Korea -U.S. Combined Forces Command, Choi is the right person to be the defense chief for his expertise in national defense and security, as well as military operations.