Military Issues 'Suspension from Duty Pending Prosecution' for Former Frontline Intelligence, Defense, Special Forces, and Intelligence Commanders

Only 50% of Regular Salary Paid During Prosecutorial Leave
Personnel Measures Under Review for Army Chief of Staff

Former commanders involved in the December 3 emergency martial law incident will face suspension from their duties followed by prosecutorial leave. The military is also reviewing personnel measures concerning Army Chief of Staff Park An-su.

On the 6th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it has issued prosecutorial leave for four individuals who were indicted and detained in connection with the December 3 emergency martial law incident: former Director of the Defense Security Command Yeo In-hyung, former Capital Defense Command Commander Lee Jin-woo, former Special Warfare Command Commander Kwak Jong-geun, and former Intelligence Command Commander Moon Sang-ho.

President Yoon Suk-yeol announced in an emergency address at 4:30 a.m. on the 4th that the martial law declared last night will be lifted in response to the National Assembly's request. The photo shows President Yoon's emergency address being broadcast on the TV in the Seoul Station waiting room. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

These individuals were all suspended from their duties as of the 21st of last month by the Ministry of National Defense’s Duty Suspension Review Committee on the 20th.

According to the Military Personnel Act, prosecutorial leave refers to a system where a military officer is forcibly placed on leave at the discretion of their commander. Officers on prosecutorial leave cannot be assigned other duties until a final verdict is reached, and during the leave period, they receive only 50% of their regular salary.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense is reviewing personnel measures regarding Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who served as the martial law commander during the emergency. Unlike the four former commanders mentioned earlier, Park has not been suspended from his duties. This is due to regulations requiring the review committee to be composed of at least three members senior to the person under review. Currently, among active-duty military personnel, only Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Myung-soo is senior to Park.