UPDATE - South Korea's ex-defense chief Kim banned from leaving country amid treason charges

UPDATES WITH OVERSEAS TRAVEL BAN ON FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER, ARMY CHIEF'S RESIGNATION; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korean authorities on Thursday banned former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun from leaving the country over his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law declaration.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Public Investigation Division has imposed an overseas travel ban on Kim through the Justice Ministry, according to the Yonhap news agency.

The development came after the Labor Party, the Green Party, and the Justice Party filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Wednesday against Yoon, Kim, and Army Chief of Staff Park An-soo, accusing them of committing treason.

Earlier, Yoon accepted the resignation of Kim amid growing criticism over his alleged involvement in Yoon's failed martial law declaration.

Kim, who reportedly suggested the president to impose martial law, offered his resignation Wednesday.

Yoon has nominated Choi Byung-huk, a retired four-star general who is currently serving as South Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, to replace Kim, Yoon's Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk said at a press briefing, according to Yonhap.

Choi is regarded as a strong candidate to "fulfill the military's core responsibilities, including maintaining a solid readiness posture based on the strong South Korea-US alliance," Chung said.

Meanwhile, Park An-su, who was named the martial law commander, told lawmakers on Thursday he offered his resignation to the former defense minister.

"I understand the Department of Defense is reviewing (resignation)," he said, in response to a question during a parliamentary committee meeting.

In a late-night live televised address Tuesday, Yoon declared martial law but was forced to lift it just hours later after lawmakers unanimously voted to block the order amid nationwide protests.

Opposition parties subsequently filed an impeachment motion against Yoon.

*Islamuddin Sajid contributed to this story