South Korea’s president has accepted the resignation offer by his defense minister, 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.

South Korea's parliament introduced a motion on Thursday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a botched attempt to impose martial law, but his party vowed to oppose the move, throwing the process into doubt.

Seoul was largely calm Wednesday after a shock overnight political crisis ended with parliamentarians and citizens reversing an attempt by conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law.