More than 1,500 military personnel, equipped with a range of firearms, along with over 100 military vehicles, were reportedly mobilized during President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on Dec. 3. According to a report released Thursday by Rep. Bak Seung-a of the Democratic Party of Korea, 107 military vehicles were deployed by the Army Special Warfare Command and the Capital Defense Command on the night of the martial law declaration. The report, which Bak received from the Defense

Defense Dec. 19, 2024

Live ammunition and Taser gun cartridges, along with blank rounds, were taken out of a military depot for the 707th Special Mission Group that forcibly entered the National Assembly after martial law was declared on Dec. 3. According to a report submitted to Rep. Seo Young-kyo by the Army Special Warfare Command -- the group's parent unit -- 3,960 live rounds, 1,980 blank rounds and 100 cartridges for Taser guns, were withdrawn for the 707th Special Mission Group on the night when impeach

Defense Dec. 18, 2024

A military court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for Army Gen. Park An-su, formerly Army chief of staff, on charges related to his involvement in impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The arrest warrant was initially sought by the prosecution's special investigation unit probing Yoon's martial law decree on Sunday. Park has been suspended from his position as Army chief of staff since Thursday, as the Defense Ministry deemed him unable to perform

Defense Dec. 17, 2024

The budget for a project to enhance the South Korean Air Force's key fighter aircraft, the F-15K, has risen by over 1 trillion won ($697 million) due to increasing labor and material costs in the defense industry, according to the country's arms procurement agency. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that the agency's defense acquisition program promotion committee has approved the final plan for the project on Monday. With a focus on improving the key aviatio

Defense Dec. 17, 2024

South Korea’s military leadership crisis is deepening as key unit commanders come under scrutiny in the investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Three three-star generals under investigation have been dismissed from their posts while the Army Chief of Staff has been suspended from duty. The military court on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-geun, former chief of the Special Warfare Command and Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, former he

Defense Dec. 16, 2024

The prosecution's special investigation team on Saturday arrested three-star Army Gen. Yeo In-hyung, the former chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, over his alleged involvement in impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Yeo is accused of playing a key role in the martial law plan, including participating in discussions to plan the declaration. His charges include deploying DCC personnel to the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul and the Nationa

Politics Dec. 14, 2024

Rep. Han Ki-ho of the ruling People Power Party has reportedly been offered the role of defense minister after the initial nominee declined to take the position amid the political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration. According to local media reports, the Presidential Office informed Han of the nomination on Thursday. A four-term lawmaker, Han serves on the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee and is a retired three-star Army gen

Defense Dec. 13, 2024

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met with Philip Goldberg, the United States ambassador to South Korea, to discuss the stability of the alliance following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The speaker’s office said the meeting took place upon Woo's invitation at his National Assembly office in Yeouido, Seoul, on Thursday. During the meeting, Woo asked for continued US support for Korea amid the political turmoil that followed the controversial marti

Foreign Affairs Dec. 12, 2024

Four-star Army Gen. Park An-su, who was appointed to lead the martial law command during the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, has been suspended from his position as Army Chief of Staff, the Defense Ministry announced Thursday. Gen. Go Chang-jun, a four-star general currently leading the Army 2nd Operations Command, has been appointed acting Army Chief of Staff. The spokesperson explained that Go was chosen for his extensive knowledge of ground operations. Park’s suspension brings the total

Defense Dec. 12, 2024

South Korea’s Foreign Minister admitted to not taking calls from the US Ambassador to Korea, on the night when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. “I didn’t answer the calls because the situation was too urgent. I didn’t want to mislead the US with an incorrect assessment,” the minister stated during an emergency parliamentary hearing on Wednesday afternoon, in response to a question from Rep. Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party. The minister added that

Foreign Affairs Dec. 11, 2024

Three-star Army general Yeo In-hyung, former chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, is facing growing scrutiny over allegations he played a key role in facilitating the recent martial law declaration. Yeo has denied the accusations, claiming the DCC was unaware of the plans. However, emerging testimony and evidence cast doubt on Yeo’s claims, raising questions about his involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law declaration. Contradicting stories I

Politics Dec. 11, 2024

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, along with other Cabinet members and the head of the National Intelligence Service, has been summoned for questioning by the National Office of Investigation, regarding their attendance at a Cabinet meeting held before President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration. The special investigation team under the office stated Tuesday, “If the accused refuse to appear, we will promptly proceed with legal measures, including forced investigation

Politics Dec. 10, 2024

An Army major general who previously led the Defense Intelligence Command has been suspended from duty, following allegations of involvement in the recent short-lived martial law declaration, the Defense Ministry announced Tuesday. "The Defense Ministry suspended Gen. Moon Sang-ho, commander of the Korea Defense Intelligence Command, from his duty effective Dec. 10, due to confirmed involvement to the ongoing situation," the ministry's spokesperson office stated in a text messag

Politics Dec. 10, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol retains authority over the military, the Ministry of Defense confirmed Monday amid controversy over calls to exclude him from state affairs in the wake of his short-lived martial law declaration last week. During a regular briefing, Defense Ministry Spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu said, “The authority over the military belongs to the president,” when asked about who currently holds military control. When asked whether someone under criminal investigation for insurrec

Politics Dec. 9, 2024

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered the South Korean military to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles to Pyongyang in October, seemingly to manufacture a justification for President Yoon Suk Yeol to declare martial law, a lawmaker claimed. “I received a tip-off from the military and deemed it credible,” said Rep. Park Beom-kye of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Monday. Park added that specific details of the operation appe

Politics Dec. 9, 2024