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| The candlelight revolution in 2016 / Yonhap |
By Jung Min-ho
Top military officials seriously considered suppressing a nationwide candlelight vigil by force after former President Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly in late 2016, the Center for Military Human Rights Korea (CMHRK) claimed Thursday.
Citing sources in the military, the CMHRK said senior officials, including Major General Koo Hong-mo, discussed in detail scenarios of quelling millions of street protesters across the nation.
"It is very shocking that they considered using military forces to quell the peaceful protest," the center said. "The military mapped out a plan to trample on citizens with guns and swords in order to suck up to those in power like they did 40 years ago in Gwangju. It is tantamount to a rebellion conspiracy."
If the Constitutional Court had dismissed the Assembly's impeachment motion, the officials would have put that plan into action, according to the center. But in March 2017, the court ruled unanimously to remove the former president from office.
The center urged the government to investigate everyone allegedly involved in the scheme, including former Defense Minister Han Min-goo and Major General Koo. It also demands that the presidential office withdraw the garrison decree, which allows a president to mobilize the military without the Assembly's consent.
The ministry said it will look into the allegation.
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