Army Chief of Staff General Park An Su oversaw martial law during the December 3 martial law crisis last year and has been placed on indictment leave. This decision comes approximately 80 days after martial law was imposed.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense announced via text message to the press corps: “In light of the current situation, we have issued an indictment leave order effective February 25 for Army Chief of Staff General Park An Su, who has been indicted and detained.”
Park has not been formally relieved of his duties. According to the Military Personnel Management Act’s enforcement decree, the committee for relieving an officer of duty must consist of at least three members who outrank the subject. The only officer senior to Park is General Kim Myung Soo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The indictment left will allow Park to retain his military status while undergoing disciplinary procedures and trial in a military court. Under military personnel law, general officers must automatically retire if relieved of duty, which would transfer jurisdiction from military to civilian courts.
While on indictment leave, Park will receive only 50% of his salary and cannot be assigned to any other position until a final verdict is reached on the charges against him.
Other high-ranking officers involved in the emergency martial law, such as former Defense Intelligence Command chief Lieutenant General Yeo In Hyeong, former Capital Defense Command chief Lieutenant General Lee Jin Woo, former Special Warfare Command chief Lieutenant General Kwak Jong Geun, and former Defense Intelligence Command chief Lieutenant General Moon Sang Ho, were also placed on indictment leave on January 6.