Propose Military Emergency, South Korean Defense Minister Resigns: Threatened With Life Imprisonment Or Death Penalty

Protests against the military emergency in South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/Hashflu)

JAKARTA - South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned from his post when he was threatened with punishment for an emergency military announcement by President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday night.

The military emergency announced by President Yoon rocked the Land of Ginseng. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, a ministry official confirmed it was Minister Kim who asked President Yoon to issue a military emergency order. This comes hours after lawmakers unanimously voted to cancel it, quoted from The Korea Times Dec. 4.

Now, Kim faces impeachment and criminal charges of treason, offenses that can be sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty.

The main opposition of the Korean Democratic Party (DPK) said it was trying to impeach President Yoon, Minister Kim, and Minister of Home Affairs Lee Sang-min from his post on a "unconstitutional and unlawful" military emergency declaration plan.

It is unclear whether Lee was also informed beforehand. The party will also file a criminal charge against Kim, accusing him of pushing for a military emergency without adequate legal basis.

"The DPK will punish the unconstitutional and illegal military emergency of the Yoon government," said Jo Seoung-lae, the party's main spokesman.

"We urge law enforcement agencies to immediately launch an investigation into a treason case that is now known throughout the country and bring the perpetrators to justice," he exclaimed.

With the ruling People's Power Party largely having the same view as the DPK on what to do to punish Kim for her role, impeachment and investigations targeting her are expected to take place quickly.

In a statement released late Wednesday, Kim apologized for his role in causing social and political chaos, announcing his resignation as defense minister.

"First of all, as minister of defense, I feel very responsible and regret having raised concerns and confusion regarding martial law," he said.

"All members of the armed forces involved in implementing martial law only carry out their duties at my direction. I take full responsibility for that," said the minister, who has only served for three months.

Interestingly, during his confirmation hearing at the Assembly on September 2, Kim dismissed any possibility of an emergency military response to opposition lawmakers urging him on the matter.

"I think talks about martial law are outdated," he said.

"If it is announced, who will accept it? Do you think the military will comply with the order?" he asked at the time.

The South Korean Constitution stipulates that a president can declare martial law in response to "wars or emergency situations such as war" when the government's administrative and judicial branches cannot function amid chaos.

Many legal experts, including Cha Jin-ah, professor of law at the University of Korea, and Han In-sup of Seoul's National University Law School, said President Yoon, Minister Kim and others involved in the decision-making had abused their authority beyond the limits permitted by the Constitution.