South Korea's military has taken disciplinary action against a senior army official involved in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition last year. The defense ministry announced the measure on Wednesday. The official, chief of the Army's legal affairs office, was among 34 people on a bus heading to Seoul shortly after the National Assembly voted to lift the decree.
The defense ministry announced on Wednesday that the chief of the Army's legal affairs office has received the second-lowest level of disciplinary action for his involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid. This followed an audit by the ministry.
The official was one of 34 people on a bus that left the Army headquarters in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, for Seoul shortly after the National Assembly voted to lift the martial law decree. The bus returned about 30 minutes after departure. Gyeryong is some 145 kilometers south of Seoul.
In August, the ministry's inspection bureau initiated an internal probe to verify the roles of military units mobilized for Yoon's short-lived imposition, with results expected soon.
The ministry has also recently formed a task force, led by the defense chief, to investigate the involvement of military and ministry officials in the martial law events. This comes amid broader scrutiny of the military's actions during the incident, which unfolded late last year and led to Yoon's ouster.
The disciplinary measure underscores ongoing efforts to hold accountable those involved, ensuring the military upholds its constitutional duties amid political turmoil.