Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

12·12 Military Coup: Why 10 High-Ranking Officers Lost Their Medals in 2026

Daniel Kim Views  

Translation result

 News1 Heo Kyung
 News1 Heo Kyung

President Lee Jae-myung said on the 24th that \”it’s unthinkable for those who participated in an insurrection to be awarded medals,\” and he praised the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

That afternoon, he shared on X (formerly Twitter) a report saying the military merit medals of 10 people involved in the Dec. 12 military coup had been revoked.

At a cabinet meeting at the Blue House that day, the government approved canceling the Chungmu Military Merit Medals that had been awarded to 10 key participants in the Dec. 12 coup. The list included former Army Chief of Staff Kim Jin-young, who had served as commander of the Capital Defense Command’s security unit.

A Defense Ministry official said a full review of service records and counterintelligence operation logs concluded the awards were granted despite no combat achievements and were therefore based on false merits. The official added that the cabinet’s review procedures were not properly followed.

The ranks and assignments of those whose honors were revoked were △Lee Sang-gyu, Brigadier General (Army 2nd Armored Brigade) △Kim Yun-ho, Lieutenant General (I Corps) △Lee Pil-seok, Colonel (I Corps) △Kwon Jeong-dal, Brigadier General (Defense Security Command) △Go Myung-seung, Colonel (Presidential Security Service) △Jeong Do-young, Brigadier General (Defense Security Command) △Song Eung-seop, Colonel (Ministry of National Defense) △Kim Taek-su, Colonel (Army 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade) △Kim Ho-young, Lieutenant Colonel (Army 2nd Armored Brigade) △Kim Jin-young, Major General (Capital Defense Command).

Daniel Kim
content@tenbizt.com

[Military] Latest Stories

  • 30 of 33 Iran Missile Bases Still Active: Intelligence Defies Trump Claims
    30 of 33 Iran Missile Bases Still Active: Intelligence Defies Trump Claims
  • US Javelin Missiles Deployed in Taiwan’s High-Stakes Live-Fire Drill
    US Javelin Missiles Deployed in Taiwan's High-Stakes Live-Fire Drill
  • North Korea’s 10-Year Nuclear Threat: Is a Limited Strike Imminent?
    North Korea's 10-Year Nuclear Threat: Is a Limited Strike Imminent?
  • AI vs. Video Compression: How RMX is Redefining Tactical Edge Tech
    AI vs. Video Compression: How RMX is Redefining Tactical Edge Tech
  • US-South Korea Security Meeting Sparks Tension Over Military Control
    US-South Korea Security Meeting Sparks Tension Over Military Control
  • Iran Claims Missile Strikes on U.S. Military Bases: Did They Hit?
    Iran Claims Missile Strikes on U.S. Military Bases: Did They Hit?

Weekly Best Articles

  • Choi Dong-seok’s Family Bond: How a Simple Engraving Reveals Deep Love for His Children
  • Kwak Sun-hee’s Stunning Wedding Photos: A Celebration of Love and Courage
  • Is ‘I Am a Natural Person’ Just a Big Lie? Comedian Yoon-taek Reveals Shocking Secrets!
  • Health Scare: Why Fans Are Worried About Go Ji Yong’s Dramatic Weight Loss
  • Discover the Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival: A Taste of Korea at H-Mart in the USA!
  • 2026 Spring Wildfire Prevention: How Gyeryong City is Cutting Response Time to 30 Minutes!

You May Also Like

  • 1
    Trump Slashes AI Review Window to 30 Days Amid National Security Debate

    Politics 

    Trump Slashes AI Review Window to 30 Days Amid National Security Debate
  • 2
    Ukraine’s EU Bid Surges as Hungary Drops Opposition Amid Russian Attacks

    Politics 

    Ukraine’s EU Bid Surges as Hungary Drops Opposition Amid Russian Attacks
  • 3
    Trump Backs Colombia's 'El Tigre' — What It Means for U.S. Relations

    Politics 

    Trump Backs Colombia’s ‘El Tigre’ — What It Means for U.S. Relations
  • 4
    Trump Backs Colombia's Far-Right Outsider—What's at Stake?

    Politics 

    Trump Backs Colombia’s Far-Right Outsider—What’s at Stake?
  • 5
    12.5% Tariff Hit: South Korea Faces New U.S. Trade Penalties

    Politics 

    12.5% Tariff Hit: South Korea Faces New U.S. Trade Penalties

Popular Now

  • 1
    12.5% Tariff Alert: Why the U.S. Is Targeting South Korean Imports

    Politics&nbsp

  • 2
    Marta Kostyuk Makes History at French Open Amid Ukraine Crisis

    Politics&nbsp

  • 3
    37 Years in Exile: The Tiananmen Leader Who Just Wants to Go Home

    Politics&nbsp

  • 4
    South Korea's Cheongju Airport Faces Crisis as Passenger Numbers Explode

    Politics&nbsp

  • 5
    Nuclear Submarine Race: South Korea's High-Stakes Bid for U.S. Fuel

    Politics&nbsp

Weekly Best Articles

  • Choi Dong-seok’s Family Bond: How a Simple Engraving Reveals Deep Love for His Children
  • Kwak Sun-hee’s Stunning Wedding Photos: A Celebration of Love and Courage
  • Is ‘I Am a Natural Person’ Just a Big Lie? Comedian Yoon-taek Reveals Shocking Secrets!
  • Health Scare: Why Fans Are Worried About Go Ji Yong’s Dramatic Weight Loss
  • Discover the Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival: A Taste of Korea at H-Mart in the USA!
  • 2026 Spring Wildfire Prevention: How Gyeryong City is Cutting Response Time to 30 Minutes!

Must-Reads

  • 1
    Trump Slashes AI Review Window to 30 Days Amid National Security Debate

    Politics 

    Trump Slashes AI Review Window to 30 Days Amid National Security Debate
  • 2
    Ukraine’s EU Bid Surges as Hungary Drops Opposition Amid Russian Attacks

    Politics 

    Ukraine’s EU Bid Surges as Hungary Drops Opposition Amid Russian Attacks
  • 3
    Trump Backs Colombia's 'El Tigre' — What It Means for U.S. Relations

    Politics 

    Trump Backs Colombia’s ‘El Tigre’ — What It Means for U.S. Relations
  • 4
    Trump Backs Colombia's Far-Right Outsider—What's at Stake?

    Politics 

    Trump Backs Colombia’s Far-Right Outsider—What’s at Stake?
  • 5
    12.5% Tariff Hit: South Korea Faces New U.S. Trade Penalties

    Politics 

    12.5% Tariff Hit: South Korea Faces New U.S. Trade Penalties

Popular Now

  • 1
    12.5% Tariff Alert: Why the U.S. Is Targeting South Korean Imports

    Politics 

  • 2
    Marta Kostyuk Makes History at French Open Amid Ukraine Crisis

    Politics 

  • 3
    37 Years in Exile: The Tiananmen Leader Who Just Wants to Go Home

    Politics 

  • 4
    South Korea's Cheongju Airport Faces Crisis as Passenger Numbers Explode

    Politics 

  • 5
    Nuclear Submarine Race: South Korea's High-Stakes Bid for U.S. Fuel

    Politics