Yoon accepts Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun's resignation, names successor

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Yoon accepts Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun's resignation, names successor

Published: 05 Dec. 2024, 08:49 Updated: 05 Dec. 2024, 19:17

SEO JI-EUN
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Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun departs from Incheon International Airport on Oct. 29 to attend the 56th South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM). [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who stepped down amid intense backlash over his deep involvement in Korea’s first declaration of martial law in 45 years.

Kim, regarded as the key architect of the martial law plan, stepped down less than 24 hours after the emergency martial law, implemented late Tuesday, was overturned by the National Assembly shortly after. Thursday's parliamentary questioning revealed that Kim directed key elements of the operation, including deploying troops to the National Assembly, appointing a martial law commander and issuing the controversial proclamation, which has been criticized as unconstitutional.

During a parliamentary question on Thursday, Vice Defense Minister and Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho confirmed that Kim Yong-hyun personally directed the operations following the proclamation's effect at 11 p.m. Tuesday, including troop deployments to the National Assembly. Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who was appointed martial law commander, also testified that he did not order the deployment.

Korea's Martial Law Act stipulates that when the law is declared nationwide, command authority flows directly from the president to the martial law commander. However, testimony suggests that Kim bypassed this chain of command, raising legal questions.

Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, left, who served as the martial law commander, and Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho respond to lawmakers’ questions during a session of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee in Yeouido, wetsern Seoul, on Thursday. [JEON MIN-GYU]

The drafting of the proclamation also sparked controversy.

The proclamation banned all political activities, including assemblies and protests, which were pointed out as violating the Constitution. While martial law permits special measures regarding administrative and judicial functions, it does not authorize interference with legislative activities.

"Although I cannot confirm who drafted the proclamation, as far as I know, the Ministry of National Defense did not draft the proclamation," said Acting Defense Minister Kim.

Park noted he first saw the document at a command post. He raised concerns about its legality, while ex-Minister Kim dismissed the concerns, saying “The legal review is complete; there’s no issue.”

The questioning also revealed that there was dissent within the defense ministry and military.

“I have fundamentally opposed the mobilization of troops in such martial law, and I expressed a negative opinion on that," Kim said. He also expressed regret and said he would take full responsibility for not intervening earlier.

While Yoon's senior aides offered to resign en masse following the martial law declaration, Park said he also offered to resign to Kim as the Army Chief of Staff the previous day.

The presidential office said Thursday Yoon rejected Park’s offer to resign. Yoon determined that “stable military operations are necessary under the recent severe security situation, and requested that he concentrates on carrying out his duties as Army Chief of Staff,” according to the presidential office.

Ex-Defense Minister Kim is known as a staunch loyalist to Yoon.

A high school senior to Yoon, he was instrumental in relocating the presidential office from the Blue House to its current location in Yongsan. He also served as the head of the Presidential Security Service before being appointed defense minister.

Insiders suggest Kim’s fealty to Yoon, saying "you're right" to every one of the president’s words, influenced the president’s decision to push forward with martial law, despite vocal opposition from other cabinet members during a late-night meeting on Tuesday, according to local media reports.

Yoon declared emergency martial law a bit before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, which was lifted only six hours later, three and a half hours after the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to lift it. This was the first time since 1979 — following the assassination of President Park Chung Hee — and the 17th time in Korea’s whole history that a state of martial law was declared.

Kim’s resignation ends his three-month tenure as defense minister in disgrace, marking the third such departure under Yoon’s administration.

Opposition lawmakers filed charges of insurrection against him, and the police barred Kim from leaving the country. Kim denied accusations that he plans to flee, calling them “baseless political propaganda” in an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily.

The president nominated Choi Byung-hyuk, Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a graduate of the Korea Military Academy, as the next defense minister.

Choi Byung-hyuk, Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia and nominee for Korea's defense minister [YONHAP]

Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk praised Choi as “not only well-versed in overall security matters but also ... a principled leader who completes his duties with dedication while adhering to regulations.” Chung added that Choi is "the ideal person to ensure the armed forces fulfill their mission, maintain a solid readiness posture and strengthen the ironclad South Korea-U.S. alliance.”

Except for Thursday's nomination, Yoon, who is facing mounting criticism for the martial law declaration, has not made a public statement on the issue. Yoon canceled all public appearances for two consecutive days amid the ongoing fallout.

Update Dec. 5: Added new updates on Thursday's parliamentary questioning and added details throughout the story.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]