South Korea’s Yoon replaces defence chief ahead of impeachment vote

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP, File)

South Korea’s president accepted the resignation of his defence minister on Thursday as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning yet short-lived imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets.

The main opposition Democratic Party and other small opposition parties submitted a joint motion to impeach president Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over his martial law declaration the previous night.