Seoul: Three more military commanders, including the head of a special forces unit, have been suspended from their duties in connection to their alleged roles in President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The defense ministry announced the suspension of Maj. Gen. Park Heon-su, chief of the Defense Ministry Investigation Headquarters; Brig. Gen. Lee Sang-hyun, commander of the 1st Special Forces Airborne Brigade; and Col. Kim Hyun-tae, head of the Army Special Warfare Command's 707th Special Mission Group.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the three commanders are among seven military officials indicted by the prosecution last week on charges of participating in the barricading of the National Assembly and operating an arrest team during Yoon's failed martial law attempt on December 3. This suspension follows the February decision by the defense ministry to place four former military commanders and Gen. Park An-su, chief of staff of the Army who served as martial law commander, on compulsory leave after their indictment over similar allegations.
The decision to suspend these commanders while retaining them as servicemen is perceived as a strategic move to enable the military to impose disciplinary measures should the former commanders be found guilty.