Three Army officers dismissed, one removed over martial law involvement allegations
Published: 05 May. 2026, 14:23
Updated: 05 May. 2026, 15:28
![Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaks during a briefing about a probe about the martial law imposition on Dec. 3, 2024 at the ministry in central Seoul on Feb. 12. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/05/8595b15c-ba41-4662-b85e-047f7f0e60e6.jpg)
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaks during a briefing about a probe about the martial law imposition on Dec. 3, 2024 at the ministry in central Seoul on Feb. 12. [YONHAP]
The decision came after the ministry convened a disciplinary committee meeting last month to review the cases of the four Army officers accused of involvement in imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.
Brig. Gen. Kim Jeong-geun; Col. An Mu-seong, who had been awaiting promotion to brigadier general; and Col. Kim Se-un were dismissed from military service, the highest level of disciplinary punishment, according to sources. The punishment carries a 50 percent cut in military retirement benefits.
Brig. Gen. Kim and An are accused of deploying troops to the National Assembly in western Seoul on the night martial law was declared, while Col. Kim is accused of transporting the troops to the National Assembly building.
Col. Kim Sang-yong, former deputy chief of the Defense Ministry's Criminal Investigation Command, was removed from military service, the second-highest level of disciplinary punishment, over his alleged role in helping form a team to arrest key politicians and other major figures. The punishment does not affect military retirement benefits.
The latest move came as the ministry has launched an internal probe into about 860 general-grade and field-grade officers and identified some 180 military personnel as having been involved in the martial law bid in late 2024.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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