Seoul [South Korea], December 6: The chairman of South Korea's ruling party has urged his colleagues to reject the opposition-led impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol, as the fallout from Yoon's imposition of martial law continued with his defence minister's resignation.
The Yonhap news agency on Thursday quoted Han Dong Hoon as saying: "As party leader, I will work to ensure that this impeachment (motion) does not pass to prevent harm from unprepared chaos to the public and supporters."
President Yoon unexpectedly declared martial law on Tuesday only to lift it a few hours later in the face of massive political resistance and protests.
This marked the first time since South Korea's transition to democracy in the late 1980s that the country's head of state imposed martial law.
In the wake of the turmoil, opposition lawmakers signed a petition for impeachment proceedings, which is set to be voted on in parliament on Saturday.
Also on Thursday, Yoon accepted the resignation of his defence minister.
Kim Yong Hyun, a former head of the Presidential Security Service and close aide to Yoon, was only inaugurated as defence minister in September.
The Defence Ministry in Seoul confirmed that Kim proposed the martial law to Yoon, Yonhap reported. The finance, education and justice ministers are also reportedly planning to take responsibility for Yoon's actions by stepping down from their posts.
Source: Qatar Tribune