South Korea's Military to Reward Soldiers Who Defied "Unjust" Orders During Martial Law Imbroglio

The South Korean defense ministry plans to reward soldiers who disobeyed "unjust" orders during the botched martial law imposition by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in an effort to boost military morale. The move comes as the military faces scrutiny for its role in deploying troops to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from lifting Yoon's brief imposition of martial law. A special counsel team is currently investigating the incident, with the defense minister nominee, Ahn Gyu-back, vowing to rebuild the military into one that is trusted by the people.

Key Takeaways:

• The defense ministry will verify cases of soldiers who defied illegal or unjust orders during the December 3 martial law imposition, with the aim of identifying those who contributed to protecting the safety and lives of the public.
• Rewards or encouragements for these personnel could follow, with a process that may take from weeks to over a month.
• The move comes as Defense Minister nominee Ahn Gyu-back has vowed to rebuild the military into one that is trusted by the people while shoring up internal morale.
• Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee has called for follow-up measures for people who made clear contributions by faithfully serving their roles to guard the people's lives and properties.
• The ministry will thoroughly verify cases and seek clear rules in presenting rewards to address concerns over vague standards.
• The military has promised to "actively cooperate" with authorities on the special counsel probe into the botched martial law imposition.

Statistics:

• The inspection bureau has launched a process to verify troops who are believed to have defied illegal or unjust orders during the December 3 martial law imposition.
• The rewards or encouragements for personnel who defied "unjust" orders may take from weeks to over a month to process.
• 100% of the sex of the personnel being recognized is not specified in the article.

Sources:

• Yonhap News Agency, July 18, 2025