Ministry of National Defense Severely Disciplines Special Warfare Command Generals and Officers Involved in Martial Law

The Ministry of National Defense has imposed severe disciplinary action on four generals and field-grade officers of the Special Warfare Command, who were brought to trial on charges of participating in the "12·3 Martial Law." The officers were found to have violated their duty to comply with the law and their duty of fidelity.

Martial law troops video released by the National Assembly Secretariat. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Ministry of National Defense on May 5, three individuals—Kim Jeonggeun, former commander of the 3rd Airborne Brigade of the Special Warfare Command (brigadier general); An Moosung, former commander of the 9th Airborne Brigade (promoted to brigadier general); and Kim Sewoon, former commander of the Special Operations Aviation Group (colonel), who transported troops to the National Assembly—have been dismissed from their positions.

Kim Sangyong, former deputy director of the Defense Ministry's Investigation Headquarters (colonel), who participated in organizing arrest teams for key political figures and other high-profile individuals, was removed from office.

Previously, the Defense Ministry's Special Investigation Headquarters indicted a total of eight people, including these individuals, on charges such as participation in significant insurrectionary duties and abuse of authority. In a previously held disciplinary committee, three people—Koo Samhoe, former commander of the Army's 2nd Armored Brigade; Jeong Seongwoo, former chief of the 1st Counterintelligence Office; and Kim Changhak, former commander of the Military Police of the Capital Defense Command—were dismissed, while Bang Junghwan, former Director of the Defense Innovation Planning Office, was removed from office.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.