Yoon faces impeachment vote, investigation for treason

SEOUL — South Korean opposition lawmakers said on Thursday they would vote this weekend to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol for his botched attempt to impose martial law, and police said they were investigating claims of treason against him and top ministers.

Yoon's declaration of martial law late on Tuesday sparked outrage in the streets and concern among South Korea's international allies. The defense minister, who recommended the move, has resigned.

Lawmakers of the opposition Democratic Party planned to seek a vote in parliament to impeach Yoon at about 7 pm on Saturday, a party spokesperson told reporters.

"The Yoon Suk-yeol regime's declaration of emergency martial law caused great confusion and fear among our people," Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won told the National Assembly earlier.

Yoon's ruling People Power Party is divided over the crisis but said it would oppose impeachment, with the party in turmoil and two years left in Yoon's five-year term.

The Democratic Party needs at least eight of the 108 ruling party lawmakers to back the bill for it to pass with a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament.

Fighting for his political future, Yoon accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Thursday and nominated his ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Choi Byung-hyuk, as a replacement, Yoon's office said.

Kim recommended Yoon declare martial law on Tuesday, according to the interior minister, a senior military official and the opposition's filing to impeach Yoon.

Kim also ordered the deployment of troops to the parliament, Vice-Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho said, adding that he was unaware of the martial law order until Yoon declared it.

The chief of investigations for the national police confirmed to a parliamentary hearing that the force was investigating accusations of treason and other related crimes over the declaration of martial law. The complaint was filed by an opposition party and activists.

The probe includes Yoon, his interior minister and the ousted defense minister.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Reuters the United States had not been made aware in advance of Yoon's declaration, while his deputy, Kurt Campbell, said Yoon had badly misjudged it.

Agencies via Xinhua