Four general and field-grade officers put on trial on charges of participating in the Dec. 3 martial law were dismissed or received other heavy disciplinary penalties.
The Ministry of National Defense said on the 5th that it imposed heavy disciplinary action on four people, including generals and colonels, for violating the duty to comply with laws and the duty of fidelity in connection with the Dec. 3 insurrection case.
The Ministry of National Defense was said to have dismissed three—former 3rd Airborne Brigade commander Kim Jeong-geun (brigadier general), former 9th Airborne Brigade commander An Mu-seong (brigadier general–designate), and former Special Operations Aviation Group Director General Kim Se-woon (colonel)—and removed former Criminal Investigation Command Vice Administrator Kim Sang-yong (colonel) from office.
Former brigade commander Kim is accused of deploying troops to the National Election Commission and other sites under orders from former Special Warfare Command commander Gwak Jong-geun during the martial law. Former brigade commander An is suspected of sending unit members to the National Election Commission's Gwanak office and other locations and ordering them to occupy the buildings. Former Director General Kim is accused of transporting troops to the National Assembly, and former Vice Administrator Kim is accused of joining an arrest team targeting key figures including politicians.
Earlier, the Ministry of National Defense Special Investigation Headquarters indicted a total of eight people, including these individuals, on charges including engaging in important duties related to insurrection and obstruction of the exercise of rights by abuse of authority.