Seoul: The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has put forth a motion to impeach Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, following the president's brief and unsuccessful imposition of martial law, which lawmakers blocked.According to Yonhap News Agency, the DP submitted the impeachment motion to the National Assembly's bills office at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The party intends to present the motion to a parliamentary plenary session on Thursday, alongside an impeachment motion for President Yoon Suk Yeol introduced earlier in the day, with plans to bring both motions to a vote on Friday or Saturday.Per legislative requirements, an impeachment motion must be voted on between 24 and 72 hours after being reported to a plenary session. The DP has also announced plans to file charges of treason against Yoon, Kim, and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, pushing for their impeachment in response to the martial law incident.Following the DP's proposal, the defense ministry announced that Kim had offered his resignation, a ccepting "full responsibility" for the situation and issuing an apology to the public. The political maneuvers ensued after President Yoon declared emergency martial law in an unexpected late-night announcement on Tuesday, which he rescinded hours later after the opposition-controlled Assembly voted against it. Kim was reportedly the one who suggested the martial law declaration to the president.
- September 13, 2026
