Ministry of National Defense Imposes Three-Month Suspension on Four Generals Who Boarded "Martial Law Bus"

Four generals who boarded the so-called "martial law bus" during the 12·3 Martial Law were given severe disciplinary actions.

On January 7, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it had imposed severe disciplinary measures on four generals who boarded the martial law bus, citing violations of their duty to comply with the law. All four are major generals affiliated with Army Headquarters, and it has been reported that the level of discipline was a "three-month suspension."

Yonhap News Agency

Disciplinary actions for military personnel are divided into severe measures such as dismissal, removal, demotion, and suspension, and minor measures such as pay cuts, confinement, and reprimand.

The martial law bus refers to a bus that departed from Army Headquarters at Gyeryongdae to Seoul at around 3:00 a.m. on December 4, 2024, under the instructions of former Martial Law Commander Park Ansoo, following the 12·3 Martial Law. The bus returned after 30 minutes, and a total of 34 people were on board.

Among the passengers, former Army Judge Advocate General Kim Sanghwan (Brigadier General) and former Acting Director of the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters Kim Seungwan (Brigadier General) had previously received severe disciplinary actions in the form of demotion.