Following the resignation of South Korea’s Defence Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, a retired military official has emphasized that the ministry is fully taking responsibility for the brief imposition of martial law earlier this week. The controversial declaration by President Yoon Suk-yeol, which was lifted just hours later, sparked a national debate about the military’s involvement in the decision-making process.
On Tuesday evening, President Yoon declared martial law, only to reverse the decision shortly after the National Assembly voted against it. Lieutenant General Chun In-bum, who retired in 2016, spoke to RTHK about the army’s lack of prior knowledge regarding the move. He revealed that the military was not informed about the specifics of the martial law declaration until shortly before it was enacted, when they were given orders to occupy key government buildings, including the National Assembly.
“The army did not know the reasons behind the declaration of martial law or their mission in detail. They were told only a few hours before their deployment where to go and what to do,” said Chun. “Many soldiers were uncertain about their mission and had no clear instructions about the objectives until they arrived at their designated locations.”
Despite the chaos surrounding the event, Chun stated that the military’s reputation remains intact. He noted that the soldiers involved in the operation had reservations about the mission and chose not to fully carry out their orders, effectively allowing the democratic process to prevail.
“The army’s reputation remains unscathed because the soldiers involved recognized something was wrong and chose not to pursue their mission aggressively,” Chun said. “They allowed the democratic system to function and helped avoid further escalation.”
Chun further emphasized the importance of martial law as a necessary measure for national security, particularly in the context of potential threats from North Korea. While acknowledging the controversy surrounding its recent invocation, he called for South Korea to establish clearer protocols for such extreme measures to ensure they are implemented only when absolutely necessary.
“I hope the people of South Korea understand that the army had no part in the decision. The soldiers were simply carrying out orders from the Commander-in-Chief, the President,” he explained. “But we must find a way to prevent such events from occurring again, while recognizing that martial law remains an essential tool to protect the country from external threats.”
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