Yoon Accepts Resignation of Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Approves Dismissal
Ruling Party Also Requested Dismissal but Was Rejected
Successor Choi Byung-hyuk... "Can Speak Frankly to Superiors"
Jung Jin-seok, Chief of Staff to the President, is giving a personnel briefing on the 5th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
President Yoon Suk-yeol accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who had proposed martial law on the 5th, and appointed Choi Byung-hyuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as his successor.
Although there were calls within the ruling party to dismiss Minister Kim, President Yoon concluded the matter by merely approving his dismissal.
Jung Jin-seok, Chief of Staff at the Presidential Office, stated in a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the morning of the 5th, "Today, the President accepted Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun's resignation and approved his dismissal, and nominated Ambassador Choi Byung-hyuk to Saudi Arabia as the new minister candidate."
Jung introduced the nominee, saying, "He is a retired four-star general of the Army with extensive knowledge in defense and security, as well as a seasoned operations expert with abundant field experience across various frontline areas."
He added, "Moreover, he is a principled individual who completes tasks with dedication and adheres to regulations, possessing the conviction to speak frankly to superiors, earning deep trust within the military."
Jung said, "Based on his rich experience and high insight in defense and security, he is deemed the right person to faithfully carry out the military's core duties, including maintaining a firm military readiness posture grounded in the strong ROK-U.S. alliance."
Earlier, Minister Kim, who is known to have proposed martial law to President Yoon, expressed deep responsibility and tendered his resignation the day before. Minister Kim is a senior by one year to President Yoon at Chung-Ang High School and is reported to have led the martial law incident.
In the briefing, Jung did not comment on President Yoon's declaration and lifting of martial law that occurred on the 3rd and 4th.
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