Defense ministry dismisses general-level officer over martial law involvement

The defense ministry on Friday dismissed an Army brigadier general for his involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid. The decision came after the defense minister held a committee meeting last week to decide on disciplinary action against seven general-level officers involved in the martial law bid on Dec. 3 last year. On Friday, the ministry said two of them received "grave" disciplinary action. They included Army Brig. Gen. Lee Jae-sik, who was reportedly dismissed. The other, also an Army brigadier general, was reportedly demoted. Lee served as the planning and coordination chief for the martial law command at the time of its declaration. "In addition to the two individuals announced today, we plan to make further announcements once the process of notifying (the generals) of the disciplinary measures taken against them is complete," an official from the ministry said. The other general-level officers include Kwak Jong-keun, former chief of the Army Special Warfare Command; Yeo In-hyung, former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command; and Lee Jin-wo