The Ministry of National Defense said there are allegations that Kang Dong-gil, the chief of naval operations, was connected to the Dec. 3 martial law, and decided on the 13th to remove Kang from duty and proceed with disciplinary action.
Spokesperson Jeong Bit-na of the Ministry of National Defense said at a briefing, "As suspicions were identified in connection with the insurrection case, the Ministry of National Defense removed the chief of naval operations from duty as of today," and added, "We will proceed with disciplinary procedures and take personnel measures depending on the outcome."
The Ministry of National Defense determined that Kang was suspected of involvement in forming the martial law command. According to the ministry, Kang, who was the director of the military support headquarters at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) at the time of the Dec. 3 martial law, told the responsible Director to provide support at the request of then JCS vice chief Jeong Jin-pal to help set up the martial law command.
However, it did not refer the case for investigation. An official at the Ministry of National Defense said, "Kang actively cooperated with relevant statements and requests for materials." The ministry plans to start disciplinary procedures against Kang as soon as possible.
Kang was the director of the military support headquarters at the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the martial law and was appointed chief of naval operations in September last year after the Lee Jae-myung administration took office. For the time being, the deputy chief of naval operations will serve as acting chief of naval operations.
Over two days, two four-star generals appointed by the Lee Jae-myung administration were removed from duty and became subject to disciplinary procedures. The Ministry of National Defense the previous day removed the duties of Joo Seong-un, the ground operations commander, and referred the case for investigation, citing involvement in the martial law. In Joo's case, he was the 1st Corps commander during the martial law and the commanding officer of Gu Sam-hoe, then the Army's 2nd Armored Brigade (brigadier general), who was involved in the martial law.