Four senior officers receive three‑month suspensions The defense ministry announced on Jan. 7, 2026 that four senior Army officers, identified as major generals, were each suspended for three months for their participation in the Dec. 3, 2024 martial‑law episode [1][2]. The penalties were described as “heavy” disciplinary actions, distinct from criminal prosecution, and represent the most severe personnel measures disclosed so far. The suspensions were issued after a disciplinary committee reviewed six officers linked to the incident.

Bus departure from Gyeryong tied to the decree The four suspended officers were among 34 military personnel who boarded two buses at the Army headquarters in Gyeryong and traveled toward Seoul under orders from former Army chief Park An‑su [1][2]. The buses left shortly after the National Assembly voted to lift the martial‑law decree but turned back and returned to Gyeryong within about 30 minutes. Lawmakers interpreted the movement as an attempt to establish a separate martial‑law command, fueling suspicion of a second coup effort.

Disciplinary review expands beyond senior ranks The ministry’s committee also examined two additional officers whose disciplinary outcomes remain pending [1][2]. Moreover, a separate committee was convened on Monday to investigate seven other bus passengers, extending accountability beyond the senior leadership [2]. This discrepancy between the two reports shows that the scope of the review is still widening.

Suspensions occur amid broader investigation The actions form part of an ongoing probe into former President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s failed martial‑law bid and the military’s role in the December 2024 events [1][2]. Officials emphasize that the measures aim to enforce command responsibility while the investigation continues to assess the extent of political interference within the armed forces.