The Ministry of National Defense has issued its first disciplinary action against a military officer who boarded the so-called "martial law bus" during the 12·3 Martial Law.
President Yoon Sukyeol declared martial law on the night of the 3rd, and in the early morning of the 4th, martial law troops are attempting to enter the main building of the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
According to the Ministry of National Defense on November 26, Brigadier General Kim Sanghwan, Chief of Legal Affairs at Army Headquarters, who boarded a bus bound for Seoul from Gyeryongdae Army Headquarters during the 12·3 Martial Law, was recently given a period of probation. Probation is the second lightest among minor disciplinary actions (pay cut, probation, reprimand).
Previously, around 3 a.m. on December 4 last year, immediately following 12·3, 34 Army Headquarters staff members boarded a bus to Seoul under the direction of former Martial Law Commander Park Ansu. They returned within 30 minutes of departure. The Ministry of National Defense’s audit office confirmed the details of this incident.
So far, it is reported that, aside from Chief Kim, none of the 34 staff members have faced separate disciplinary procedures. In Chief Kim’s case, it appears that a preemptive measure was taken as he is about to retire. A Ministry of National Defense official stated, "In Chief Kim’s case, since he is scheduled to retire on the 30th and has applied for honorable discharge, a separate disciplinary action was imposed."
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