Controversy erupts as Korea moves to reward soldiers for defying martial law orders
Troops enter the main building of the National Assembly in Seoul on the early morning of Dec. 4, 2024, following then-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law the previous evening. Yonhap
The Ministry of National Defense has announced plans to reward military personnel who refused to carry out unlawful or inappropriate orders during the martial law crisis last December, emphasizing that their actions defended the public and upheld constitutional order.
This initiative is part of a fact-finding investigation, launched by the ministry on Friday, to identify service members who “fulfilled their duty by resisting illegal or improper commands” during the incident.
The investigation is expected to last between one week and one month and will inform decisions on commendations, such as early promotions for enlisted troops and preferential consideration for officers during long-term service reviews. These decisions may influence the upcoming fall cycle of officer promotions.
While ministry officials framed the initiative as a morale-boosting measure and a recognition of ethical military conduct, the announcement has triggered strong public and internal backlash.
“Soldiers live and die by orders,” said a man in his 40s surnamed Choi. “If they start deciding on their own which commands are unjust and disobey them, that’s not something a soldier should do. If this becomes common in wartime, it could put the nation at serious risk. Rewarding such actions could break down the very discipline that holds the military together.”
An active-duty lieutenant colonel identified by the surname Kim expressed similar concerns, saying the military should focus on restoring stability, not reopening debate.
“What the military needs most right now is for follow-up measures related to the martial law incident to be concluded quickly so that morale and unity can be restored within the ranks,” he said. “Identifying and rewarding individuals from the incident has created a new issue that may prolong the military’s path to regaining stability.”
Online criticism was even more pointed. One widely shared comment read, “The country must be going crazy — soldiers who disobey orders aren’t punished, but rewarded?” Another wrote, “From now on, soldiers will follow orders only after personal judgment — even during war? National security is in real danger.” A third commenter added, “Even if the order was wrong, rewarding disobedience goes too far.”
The defense ministry’s initiative gained traction following a July 15 confirmation hearing for Defense Minister nominee Ahn Gyu-back. During the session, Reps. Jung Chung-rae and Kim Byung-joo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea highlighted service members such as Col. Cho Sung-hyun — who reportedly resisted executing martial law orders — and urged the ministry to formally recognize those who took a principled stand.
Officials have emphasized that the goal is not to erode military discipline but to honor individuals who acted in line with their oath to defend the Constitution. They said the commendation process will have a narrow focus and careful reviews. They also noted that investigations into potential abuses or illegal activity during the martial law period remain under the jurisdiction of a special prosecutor. Any wrongdoing uncovered by that office may result in disciplinary action or prosecution, separate from the ministry’s commendation efforts.
Korea maintains one of the largest standing armed forces in the world, with approximately 500,000 active-duty service members and about 3.1 million reservists as of 2025. Military culture in the country has long emphasized hierarchy, obedience and cohesion — values that critics say could be undermined by what they see as selective praise for insubordination.