South Korea's Yoon replaces defense chief as parliament is poised to vote on his impeachment

And there are thousands of people marching Seoul right now to the president's office. This was part of *** protest started by *** labor union that is calling for the president to resign people here chanting for President Yun Su k to be arrested. This of course, after he declared what may have been the shortest martial law the world has ever seen in an announcement Tuesday night, that was followed by these dramatic events where lawmakers gathered in the middle of the night at the National Assembly. There were soldiers that tried to stop them, they failed. And ultimately about 190 lawmakers voted to overrule martial law. Among them 18 members of the president's own party which has also come out condemning what he did before dawn this morning, he backtracked and canceled. But now he's got to face with the aftermath of that, his own political party calling for his close ally, his defense minister to resign his chief of staff and *** number of top officials have resigned. And meanwhile the opposition political parties are preparing for an attempt to impeach the president. So he's really politically in hot water right now. But I need to stress the fact that even though there is in effect *** form of *** political crisis, it's not really being felt on the streets. I landed at Incheon Airport, the main international gateway to South Korea this morning, it was functioning normally there was no unusual law enforcement or security presence there. At lunch time, restaurants downtown were full of office workers grabbing lunch. They were talking about this and everybody I've addressed this with is incensed that the president tried to do away with decades of democratic governance in *** move that really shocked this nation. But the political consequences look like they will be affecting this country for some time to come.

South Korea's president accepted the resignation of his defense minister 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. Martial law lasted about six hours, as the National Assembly quickly voted to overrule the president, forcing his Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday.On Thursday, Yoon replaced Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired four-star general who is South Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yoon's office said.It didn't provide any further comments by Yoon. He hasn't made any public appearances since he announced in a televised address that his government was lifting the martial law declaration.The opposition parties earlier submitted a separate motion to impeach Kim, alleging he recommended Yoon impose martial law. On Wednesday, Kim offered to resign and apologized for causing disruption and concern to the public. Kim said "all troops who performed duties related to martial law were acting on my instructions, and all responsibility lies with me," according to the Defense Ministry.Related video below: Sec. Blinken says U.S. watching developments in South Korea 'very closely'The impeachment motion on Yoon was introduced at a parliamentary plenary session early Thursday, meaning it can be put to a vote between Friday and Sunday. By law, the motion will be scrapped if it isn't voted within 72 hours of its parliamentary introduction. Opposition parties can submit a new impeachment motion if the current one is scrapped or voted down, according to National Assembly officials.Prospects for Yoon's impeachment isn't clear as Yoon's ruling conservative People Power Party decided Thursday to oppose the motion's passage. Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the PPP, told reporters that his party would hold another meeting to determine how to oppose the motion's passage. Observers say PPP members could simply boycott a floor vote or cast ballots against the motion.

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. Martial law lasted about six hours, as the National Assembly quickly voted to overrule the president, forcing his Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday.

On Thursday, Yoon replaced Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired four-star general who is South Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yoon's office said.

It didn't provide any further comments by Yoon. He hasn't made any public appearances since he announced in a televised address that his government was lifting the martial law declaration.

The opposition parties earlier submitted a separate motion to impeach Kim, alleging he recommended Yoon impose martial law. On Wednesday, Kim offered to resign and apologized for causing disruption and concern to the public. Kim said "all troops who performed duties related to martial law were acting on my instructions, and all responsibility lies with me," according to the Defense Ministry.

Related video below: Sec. Blinken says U.S. watching developments in South Korea 'very closely'

The impeachment motion on Yoon was introduced at a parliamentary plenary session early Thursday, meaning it can be put to a vote between Friday and Sunday. By law, the motion will be scrapped if it isn't voted within 72 hours of its parliamentary introduction. Opposition parties can submit a new impeachment motion if the current one is scrapped or voted down, according to National Assembly officials.

Prospects for Yoon's impeachment isn't clear as Yoon's ruling conservative People Power Party decided Thursday to oppose the motion's passage. Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the PPP, told reporters that his party would hold another meeting to determine how to oppose the motion's passage. Observers say PPP members could simply boycott a floor vote or cast ballots against the motion.

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