![Armed martial law troops try to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul early Dec. 4, 2024. [Photo=Yonhap]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/05/05/20260505104715483060.jpg)
The Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday it has imposed severe disciplinary measures on four senior and field-grade officers indicted for alleged involvement in the “12·3 emergency martial law,” citing violations of the duty to comply with laws and the duty of faithful service.
Three officers were dismissed from service, according to reports: Kim Jeong-geun, then commander of the Army Special Warfare Command’s 3rd Airborne Brigade (brigadier general); Ahn Mu-seong, then commander of the 9th Airborne Brigade (a brigadier general select); and Kim Se-un, then commander of the Special Operations Aviation Group (colonel), who allegedly transported troops to the National Assembly.
Kim Sang-yong, then deputy head of the Defense Ministry Investigation Headquarters (colonel), was removed from service, reports said, for alleged involvement in forming arrest teams targeting key figures including politicians.
Kim Jeong-geun is accused of dispatching troops to the National Election Commission during the emergency martial law, acting on orders from then Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun.
The ministry said it convened a disciplinary committee for the four on April 15.
Dismissal is the most severe punishment in the military, stripping a service member of status and cutting pension benefits in half. Removal is one level lower.
Earlier, the Defense Ministry’s special investigation unit indicted eight people, including the four, on charges including performing key duties in an insurrection and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights.
In earlier disciplinary proceedings, Koo Sam-hoe, then commander of the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade; Jeong Seong-woo, then head of the 1st Directorate at the Defense Security Command; and Kim Chang-hak, then head of the military police unit at the Capital Defense Command, were dismissed. Bang Jeong-hwan, then director general for defense innovation planning, was removed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.