The defense ministry has decided to slap severe penalties on three senior military officers for their roles in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law attempt in December 2024.

The ministry announced on Wednesday that it has decided to relieve Lt. Gen. Jeong Jin-pal, the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s former vice chairman, and Lt. Gen. Lee Seung-oh, its former chief director of operations, of their duties.

The ministry also ordered a two-month suspension for a former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Won Cheon-hee. 

Jeong assumed the role of deputy martial law commander under then-President Yoon and his martial law commander, Park An-su.

Lee is suspected of being involved in sending drones to Pyongyang in October 2024. 

Won is suspected of holding discussions on the martial law bid with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun one day before Yoon declared martial law.