South Korean President Lee Jae Myung returns a salute from navy, air force and army generals during a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, Sept. 1, 2025. (South Korea’s presidential office)
Months after his predecessor’s failed attempt to impose martial law, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday ordered senior military leaders to pledge loyalty to the people, according to the presidential office.
South Korean air force Gen. Jin Yong-sung — nominated Monday to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff — was told to remain “loyal to the country, rather than to power,” during a promotion ceremony in Seoul for the army, navy and air force service chiefs, the office said in a Tuesday news release.
“Public trust in the military has declined, due to illegal martial law” attempted by former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 3, Lee told the generals, according to the release.
Yoon declared martial law citing political unrest tied to mounting impeachment charges against prosecutors he had appointed and criminal probes involving then-first lady Kim Keon Hee. The National Assembly impeached Yoon on Dec. 15, and the Constitutional Court upheld the decision on April 4.
A special counsel indicted Yoon in July on abuse of power and other charges related to the declaration. Lawmakers have also scrutinized the military’s role after about 300 special forces troops deployed to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from voting to end the emergency order.
At the time, Lee, then head of the Democratic Party, live-streamed himself climbing the assembly building’s walls to bypass the blockade and cast his vote.
In the aftermath, dozens of senior officers were dismissed or relieved of duty. Then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned, was jailed and attempted suicide while in custody.
Speaking to the generals on Tuesday, Lee said efforts must be made to restore public trust.
Service members, he added, should remember they are “not loyal to political groups but to the sovereign people … and also need to cultivate their knowledge in democracy.”
