Minister Sang-min Lee's Resignation: "Solemn Responsibility for Failing to Assist the President... Apologies to the People" (Update)

Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Five Days After Martial Law Incident
"There Must Be No National Governance Vacuum or Chaos"

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min expressed his intention to resign on the 8th, five days after the emergency martial law situation.

In a statement released that day, Minister Lee said, "I deeply recognize the responsibility for not being able to serve the people comfortably and not supporting the President well, and I sincerely apologize to the people," adding, "I now intend to step down from my position as Minister of the Interior and Safety."

He also stated, "I believe that there should be no more gaps or confusion in state affairs," and "I will now return as an ordinary citizen and contribute to the new leap of the free Republic of Korea."

Earlier, the Democratic Party of Korea submitted an impeachment motion to the National Assembly on the 7th, accusing Minister Lee of conspiring in advance with President Yoon Seok-yeol to implement illegal martial law and of defending it.

During an emergency inquiry at the National Assembly's Administration and Security Committee held on the 6th, Minister Lee revealed that "all cabinet members present at the State Council meeting held just before the martial law declaration were concerned, and I also expressed concerns several times." However, the Democratic Party has continued to argue that "Minister Lee conspired in advance for illegal martial law, distorted the normal proceedings of the State Council meeting that deliberated on martial law, and strongly defended the illegal martial law."