Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said, "I apologize to the people..."Sentence to resign from the president"

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is known to have proposed emergency martial law to President Yoon Suk Yeol, said he expressed his resignation to the president, saying he apologized to the people.

In a statement to the press this afternoon, Minister Kim said he felt responsible and sorry for causing confusion and concern to the public regarding emergency martial law.

He then expressed his resignation to the president, taking responsibility for all the incidents, stressing that all soldiers who performed their duties were responsible for the minister's instructions.

He also said martial law has been lifted and the people are recovering their daily lives, but the political and security situation in the country is not easy, adding that the ministry will manage the pending issues in a stable manner and make every effort to ensure that there are no disruptions.

Minister Kim added that the South Korean military will also maintain a firm military preparedness to support national defense and public safety, and will focus more on the original mission assigned to the military.