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South Korean Military Dismisses Senior Officers and Shifts Martial‑Law Trial to Civilian Court

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  • This photo shows Col. Kim Hyun-tae (C), who is accused of leading troops to storm into the National Assembly on the night martial law was imposed in December 2024, attending a hearing at the Constitutional Court in central Seoul on Feb. 6, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    This photo shows Col. Kim Hyun-tae (C), who is accused of leading troops to storm into the National Assembly on the night martial law was imposed in December 2024, attending a hearing at the Constitutional Court in central Seoul on Feb. 6, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • This composite file photo shows Brig. Gen. Lee Sang-hyun (L) and Rear Adm. Kim Dae-woo. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    This composite file photo shows Brig. Gen. Lee Sang-hyun (L) and Rear Adm. Kim Dae-woo. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • This composite file photo shows Brig. Gen. Lee Sang-hyun (L) and Rear Adm. Kim Dae-woo. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    This composite file photo shows Brig. Gen. Lee Sang-hyun (L) and Rear Adm. Kim Dae-woo. (Yonhap) Source Full size

Dismissal of Two Senior Officers Confirmed On 30 January 2026 the Defense Ministry removed Brig. Gen. Lee Sang‑hyun, former 1st Special Forces Brigade commander, and Rear Adm. Kim Dae‑woo, ex‑investigative chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, after they led troops into the National Assembly to block a vote on a December 2024 martial‑law decree [1]. Both officers are now facing criminal charges for illegal infiltration and insurrection [1]. Their removals follow a series of earlier purges of commanders involved in the same failed coup attempt [1].

Colonel Kim Hyun‑tae Removed for Assembly Breach A day earlier, on 29 January 2026, Colonel Kim Hyun‑tae, head of the Army Special Warfare Command’s 707th Special Mission Group, was dismissed and charged with ordering the night‑time assault on the legislature [2]. He joins three other colonels stripped of their posts in what the ministry described as “heavy” disciplinary action [2]. Kim had previously appeared before the Constitutional Court on 6 February 2025 during legal challenges to the martial‑law period [2].

Six‑Officer Martial Law Case Shifted to Civilian Court On 27 January 2026 a special counsel team petitioned to transfer the trial of six active‑duty officers—including Lee, Kim Dae‑woo, and Colonel Kim Hyun‑tae—from a court‑martial to Seoul Central District Court [3]. The move invokes a legal provision that allows civilian jurisdiction over military prosecutions when a special counsel intervenes [3]. It marks a rare instance of civilian oversight in a case tied to the December 2024 attempt to suspend democratic processes [3].

Defense Ministry Labels Sanctions “Heavy” Without Details All three reports note that the ministry announced “heavy” disciplinary measures but withheld the exact nature of punishments, ranks, or names in its public statements [1][2]. The lack of transparency has been consistent across the dismissals of both senior generals and colonels [1][2]. This pattern underscores the ministry’s intent to signal strong accountability while limiting public disclosure [1][2].

Charges Frame Attempt as Insurrection Linked to Yoon Prosecutors allege that the officers acted to prevent lawmakers from rejecting a martial‑law decree championed by former President Yoon Suk‑yeol, constituting an insurrection aimed at suspending democratic governance [1][2][3]. The charges encompass illegal entry into the National Assembly, attempted arrest of politicians, and broader participation in the December 2024 coup plot [1][3]. Trials for all six officers are ongoing in the civilian court system [3].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 3, 2024 – Former President Yoon Suk‑Yeol declares martial law, ordering troops to secure the National Assembly and arrest politicians, launching a brief attempt to suspend democratic processes. [1][3][6]

Night of Dec 3, 2024 – Soldiers led by Brig. Gen. Lee Sang‑hyun and Rear Adm. Kim Dae‑woo storm the National Assembly to block a vote on the decree, while a bus carrying 34 senior officers departs Gyeryong for Seoul and returns after 30 minutes, raising suspicions of a second‑stage coup. [1][6][7]

Feb 6, 2025 – Colonel Kim Hyun‑tae appears before the Constitutional Court in Seoul, defending his role in directing troops during the night‑time martial‑law breach. [2]

Dec 16, 2025 – The defense ministry suspends sixteen military police officials from the Criminal Investigation Command for attempting to detain lawmakers on the night of the martial‑law declaration; spokesperson Chung Bin‑na says, “the task force has received tip‑offs over the past three weeks and launched the investigation yesterday.” [13]

Dec 17, 2025 – A disciplinary panel convenes to decide sanctions for eight general‑level officers implicated in the Dec 3 martial‑law bid, aiming to normalize command appointments after the crisis. [12]

Dec 22, 2025 – An inter‑agency task force, created at Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok’s request, prepares to recommend disciplinary actions against about ten senior Army officers; it notes that Brig. Gen. Kim Sang‑hwan was demoted to colonel last month for his bus‑trip involvement. [11]

Dec 26, 2025 – The defense ministry dismisses Brig. Gen. Lee Jae‑sik, the former planning chief of the martial‑law command, marking the first high‑profile dismissal among seven generals under review. [10]

Dec 29, 2025 – The ministry imposes severe discipline on five senior Army officers, removing Yeo In‑hyung and Lee Jin‑woo from office and demoting Kwak Jong‑keun, while Ko Hyun‑seok receives the second‑highest penalty; a colonel receives a two‑month suspension. [9]

Jan 5, 2026 – A disciplinary panel meets to probe seven generals tied to the failed martial‑law operation, including the recent demotion of Brig. Gen. Kim Sang‑hwan; the panel will decide on punishments ranging from suspension to dismissal. [8]

Jan 7, 2026 – The ministry suspends four senior Army officers (major generals) for three months for their participation in the Dec 3 bus mobilization, and launches a separate disciplinary committee to examine seven additional bus passengers. [6][7]

Jan 12, 2026 – Two two‑star generals are dismissed and seven one‑star generals receive one‑ to two‑month suspensions for roles in the martial‑law command led by former Army chief Park An‑su. [5]

Jan 23, 2026 – A disciplinary committee convenes on Friday to rule on six officers—including Brig. Gen. Lee Sang‑hyun and Col. Kim Hyun‑tae—accused of leading the National Assembly storm and dispatching arrest teams during the Dec 3 crisis. [4]

Jan 27, 2026 – A special counsel requests the transfer of the martial‑law case involving six officers to Seoul Central District Court, moving the proceedings from a court‑martial to civilian jurisdiction. [3]

Jan 29, 2026 – Colonel Kim Hyun‑tae, former head of the 707th Special Mission Group, is stripped of his post after being charged with directing troops into the legislature; the defense ministry’s disciplinary committee had met the previous week to consider sanctions against six officers. [2]

Jan 30, 2026 – The military dismisses Brig. Gen. Lee Sang‑hyun and Rear Adm. Kim Dae‑woo for storming the National Assembly; the defense ministry describes the measures as “heavy” disciplinary action while both officers face criminal trials for insurrection. [1]

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