Navy chief suspended for 1 month over martial law involvement: sources

▲ Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kang Dong-gil pledges his oath ahead of a parliamentary audit of the armed services at Gyeryongdae, South Korea's main military compound, in the city of Gyeryong, central South Korea, in this file photo from Oct. 24, 2025. (Yonhap)

Navy chief-disciplinary action

Navy chief suspended for 1 month over martial law involvement: sources

SEOUL, March 4 (Yonhap) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kang Dong-gil has been slapped with a one-month suspension over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid in late 2024, sources said Wednesday.

The decision came after the defense ministry convened a committee meeting Friday to decide on disciplinary action against the Navy chief, following revelations that he aided efforts to form the martial law command on the night of Dec. 3, 2024.

Without disclosing the level of punishment, the ministry said it has decided to impose "heavy" disciplinary action against Kang, who was relieved from duty last month over the allegations.

Kang, who previously served as chief of the directorate of military support at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is accused of ordering his subordinate to help efforts to form the martial law command, following orders from the then deputy martial law commander.

Since his exclusion from duty on Feb. 13, the deputy chief of the Navy has been serving as acting Navy chief.

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