South Korea: Additional Military Leaders Suspended Amid Martial Law Controversy
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Synopsis
On March 4, three military commanders were suspended in South Korea due to their involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law attempt. This decision comes amid ongoing protests and political tensions surrounding Yoon's presidency.
Key Takeaways
- Three military commanders have been suspended.
- They are linked to President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law attempt.
- Previous suspensions included four former military leaders.
- Protests at Ewha Womans University escalated into violence.
- Political tensions are high in South Korea.
Seoul, March 4 (NationPress) Three additional military leaders, including the commander of a special forces unit, have been relieved of their duties due to their suspected involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration, as stated by the defence ministry on Tuesday.
The defence ministry confirmed that it has suspended Maj. Gen. Park Heon-su, head of the Defence Ministry Investigation Headquarters; Brig. Gen. Lee Sang-hyun, commander of the 1st Special Forces Airborne Brigade; and Col. Kim Hyun-tae, leader of the Army Special Warfare Command's 707th Special Mission Group, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.
The three officials are part of the seven military personnel who faced prosecution last week for allegedly participating in the blockade of the National Assembly and forming an arrest team during Yoon's failed martial law attempt on December 3.
Previously in February, the defence ministry had placed four former military leaders, including Gen. Park An-su, who was the martial law commander, on mandatory leave after they were indicted for their suspected roles in the martial law enactment.
This action, which allows them to remain as servicemen, is perceived as a strategy to enable the military to impose disciplinary actions should the former commanders be found guilty.
Meanwhile, approximately two dozen students, alumni, and others gathered at Ewha Womans University in Seoul last week to denounce the National Assembly's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol as "invalid." They encountered another group of students staging an in-school rally demanding Yoon's removal simultaneously.
The situation quickly escalated into violence as numerous pro-Yoon YouTubers and activists invaded the campus to support one side, alongside an opposing faction of anti-Yoon student activists, despite the university's prohibition on outsiders entering for any rallies.
