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7 of 37 generals punished over martial law file suits against Defense Ministry

Published: 24 Mar. 2026, 11:05 Updated: 24 Mar. 2026, 17:01

The picture shows the Ministry of National Defense logo in Yongsan District, central Seoul. [YONHAP NEWS TV]

Seven of 37 general-level officers who were slapped with disciplinary actions over their alleged role in the 2024 botched martial law bid have filed lawsuits against the Ministry of National Defense seeking to revoke the punishment, a document showed Tuesday.

Among those who have filed lawsuits seeking to cancel the punishment, ranging from expulsions to suspension from duties, were former defense intelligence commander Moon Sang-ho and former drone operations commander Kim Yong-dae, according to the document submitted by the ministry to Rep. Choo Mi-ae of the ruling Democratic Party.

Another 29 military generals have appealed against the decisions made by the ministry's disciplinary committee, although they have yet to file lawsuits seeking to cancel the disciplinary measures, the document showed.

Of the generals who have been severely punished over allegations linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition, only Kwak Jong-keun, former commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, has accepted the measure without taking additional measures.

Kwak was dismissed from office instead of being expelled, the highest level of punishment, following deliberation that he testified during Yoon's trial.

After an internal probe into about 860 general-level and field-grade officers, the ministry said last month it had identified some 180 military personnel as having been involved in the former president's martial law bid in late 2024.

Yonhap