Ministry of National Defense Dismisses Kim Hyuntae, Commander of 707 Special Mission Unit, and Five Others from Their Posts

Park Heonsu Investigation Headquarters Chief Excluded
"Other Measures Under Consideration"

Six military personnel who were indicted without detention on charges including rebellion related to the December 3 emergency martial law have been relieved of their duties.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 18th that, effective from the 19th, two generals including Colonel Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707 Special Mission Group, and four colonels will be relieved of their duties.

Yonhap News

The individuals relieved of their duties are Brigadier General Lee Sang-hyun, commander of the 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade; Brigadier General Kim Dae-woo, head of the Counterintelligence Investigation Division at the Defense Counterintelligence Command; Colonel Kim (commander); Colonel Ko Dong-hee, director of planning at the Defense Intelligence Command; Colonel Kim Bong-gyu, director of the Central Press Corps; and Colonel Jeong Seong-wook, commander of the 2nd Operations Group of the 100th Brigade.

The Ministry of National Defense stated, "Additional personnel measures such as suspension from duty during prosecution are also under consideration."

However, Park Heon-su, director of the Defense Ministry Investigation Headquarters (brigadier general), who was also indicted without detention on the same charges, was excluded from this relief of duty. A Ministry of National Defense official explained, "According to current regulations, a brigadier general is automatically discharged upon relief of duty, so no relief of duty was applied to Director Park," adding, "Other personnel measures are being considered."

Meanwhile, the prosecution previously indicted seven individuals without detention on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion and abuse of authority for their involvement in the blockade of the National Assembly and operation of arrest squads during the December 3 emergency martial law incident.