SEOUL: The United States Embassy in South Korea has firmly denied allegations that the U.S. envoy to Seoul criticized the staff of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law. The denial comes amid political upheaval and allegations from opposition lawmakers. According to Anadolu Agency, the U.S. Embassy took to the social media platform X late Wednesday to address the claims, stating that while they could not disclose the specifics of diplomatic discussions, the assertions made by a Korean opposition legislator were "utterly false." The embassy specifically dismissed comments allegedly attributed to U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg by Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the Korea Rebuilding Party. Rep. Kim had claimed that Ambassador Goldberg reported difficulties in reaching South Korean government officials, including Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, shortly after President Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday night. Kim further stated that Goldberg described Yoon's offic ials as individuals he "cannot stand to deal with." Additionally, Kim alleged that the envoys of five major countries were prepared to boycott future leadership summits with South Korea if Yoon remained in office, including next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which South Korea is set to host. In response to the ongoing political crisis, Ambassador Goldberg met with South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik on Thursday, reaffirming the strong bilateral ties between the United States and South Korea. Goldberg shared on X that both he and Speaker Woo agreed on the enduring strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance. In a related development, the South Korean National Assembly passed a bill, with a vote of 195-86, calling for a special counsel investigation into President Yoon's failed martial law attempt. The Assembly also approved impeachment motions against Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and Cho Ji-ho, head of the Korean National Police Agency, for their alleged involvement in the martial law imposition. As a result of the impeachment motions, both officials will be suspended from their duties pending a ruling by the Constitutional Court.