Defense Minister Yun Kim Yong-hyun resigned on Thursday and took full responsibility for declaring martial law.
It was Kim who suggested Yun impose martial law, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min told a parliamentary hearing. Similar reports are reported by the South Korean media.
During the hearings, it was revealed that few people knew about Yoon’s plan. Vice Defense Minister Kim Sung-ho said he learned about it from the news.
Army chief Park An-su said he was given the text of the martial law notice only late Tuesday.
“There were four of us who were considering the draft… We are military experts, but not experts on the military situation. Time passed, and we all said “what should we do, what should we do?”. – he told the deputies.
The motion to impeach Yoon was tabled in parliament late Wednesday, and South Korean law requires it to be put to a vote within 72 hours.
The main opposition Democratic Party is pushing for a vote on Saturday night.
If the impeachment is upheld, the president would be immediately removed from office and the prime minister would become acting president.
The trial will then take place at the Constitutional Court, the nine-member council that oversees branches of South Korea’s government. The process can take up to 180 days.
If six members of the court vote in favor of impeachment, the president will be removed from office.
