Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
Gov’t probe into martial law fiasco ignites fears of political purge among military, public officials
President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok speak before a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
Military braces for sweeping shake-up, reshuffle of top brass
The government’s decision to launch a special task force to investigate military and public officials involved in last year’s martial law fiasco has sent shockwaves through the country’s ministries and armed forces. Officials worry they could be swept into a wide-ranging review of the chain of command and reporting practices during the crisis.
The Prime Minister’s Office recently designated 49 central administrative bodies for examination by what it calls the “Constitution-respecting government innovation task force.”
Officials of those organizations were, according to the Lee Jae Myung administration, involved in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law imposition last December, although their ranks and degrees of involvement varied.
Of the 49, 12 organizations — including the ministries of national defense, foreign affairs, economy and finance, and interior and safety, as well as the National Police Agency, National Fire Agency and Coast Guard — have been chosen for in-depth scrutiny.
Each agency must establish its own task force by Nov. 21 and submit its findings by the end of January, with personnel actions scheduled for February.
Across the organizations, officials have described an atmosphere of unease, driven by the unclear boundaries of what constitutes “involvement” in the martial law crisis.
They expressed concern that even routine reporting, short calls or meeting participation during this period could be grounds for review.
Some officials at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and National Fire Agency questioned why their agencies were included in the intensive review list, saying they were not involved in decision-making related to martial law measures.
One official at the interior ministry said he did not see what part of their routine administrative work could be viewed as grounds for scrutiny.
The police are also on edge as they approach their annual year-end reshuffle.
Some officers have expressed concern that their work during the crisis, including access control at the National Assembly compound, could be taken into account in the task force’s evaluation process.
A senior officer noted that even minor issues could affect promotion prospects during this period. At the fire agency, officials recalled the confusion over reported orders from then-Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to shut off power and water to broadcasters critical of the Yoon government.
Another source of tension is the task force’s plan for gathering internal reports.
Some officials fear that this could lead to colleagues making excessive or unfounded accusations against each other.
Government employees arrive for work at Government Complex Seoul, May 19, 2022. Newsis
The military, which was most directly and deeply involved in the martial law crisis through the mobilization of soldiers to the National Assembly and National Election Commission headquarters, is bracing for its most extensive reshuffle in years.
Already having replaced all seven four-star generals earlier this month, the defense ministry is preparing another round of sweeping personnel changes.
According to military officials, 20 three-star posts changed hands on Thursday as the ministry announced a new lineup of senior commanders.
Some corps commanders could retire without successors being named immediately, and their duties reassigned as part of a broader reorganization. The Joint Chiefs of Staff also outlined plans for large-scale personnel changes in a recent internal meeting.
Tensions are mounting because the defense ministry already underwent an internal inspection over the past several months, which led to adjustments at the senior level.
Officials inside the ministry say the new task force review has created uncertainty about whether earlier findings will be revisited or expanded.