South Korean Military Promises Not to Be a Tool for Enforcing Military Emergencies that Violate the Law

JAKARTA - The South Korean military (South Korea) promised on Thursday that they would never again be used as a presidential tool to impose a military emergency.

The promise was made after a briefing on the National Defense Ministry's policy to President Lee Jae Myung.

The ministry outlined measures aimed at preventing a recurrence of military emergency incidents that plunged the country into political and social chaos.

"Our military conveys deep and painful reflections on its involvement in the illegal military emergency on December 3, 2024, which caused national confusion and undermined the constitutional order," Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said at a press conference after the report, reported by The Korea Times (19/12).

"We will ensure that the armed forces will never again be used or exploited as an illegal military emergency tool," he said.

It is known that when former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of emergency last December, troops were deployed to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting to revoke the decree.

Furthermore, he said, the ministry would pursue comprehensive institutional reforms while maintaining full spectrum defense readiness.

"We will strengthen democratic and institutional oversight of the military by reforming laws, systems, and education," he said, adding that reforms would be carried out through special investigation headquarters and task forces dedicated to enforcing constitutional principles.

According to Ahn, the government plans to complete revisions to key military laws, including those governing soldiers' duties and rights, and to restructure the military intelligence agency by the end of next year.

The change would clarify soldiers' duty to defend the Constitution and make clear they have the right to refuse orders that violate it.

Regarding the punishment for those involved in the military emergency failure, President Lee rejected what he described as unfair and thorough punishment.

He said that the responsibility for Yoon's military emergency efforts should be handled on a case-by-case basis.

"Punishing everyone at the same time is not appropriate," President Lee said during a policy briefing.

He emphasized that responsibility must be determined based on the facts and the role of individuals, not based on collective mistakes.

President Lee said that restoring public trust would require accountability for those responsible. While acknowledging the seriousness of the incident, he warned against taking steps that could undermine the morale or institutional stability within the military.

The Defense Ministry said the reform package was designed to strengthen the military's political neutrality and reaffirm civilian control - principles that have become increasingly urgent in the wake of the military emergency.

"Our goal is clear," Ahn said.

"We will carry out these priority tasks without delay to rebuild a military that the public can trust - strong in its capabilities, professional in its behavior, and steadfast in its commitment to constitutional values," he said.