Defense Nominee Kang Apologizes Over Military's Role in 2024 Martial Law Bid
Defense minister nominee Kang Shin-chul told lawmakers he bears heavy responsibility for the military's role in the 2024 martial law crisis, while backing reform of South Korea's service academies.
South Korean Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul apologized to the public on Wednesday over the military's role in the short-lived martial law declaration of December 2024, telling lawmakers that he felt a heavy sense of accountability as a senior officer serving at the time.
Kang made the remarks during his parliamentary confirmation hearing after a ruling party lawmaker argued that he could not avoid moral and political responsibility for the crisis. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, prompting the National Assembly to pass a motion demanding that it be lifted.
Kang described the declaration as an act by the military that undermined the constitutional order. He said that, as someone who held one of the armed forces' highest ranks, he felt deep responsibility and offered a sincere apology to the public. His statement placed institutional accountability at the center of a hearing that also examined the direction of military reform.
At the time of the martial law decree, Kang was a four-star Army general serving as deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He was not involved in carrying out the declaration because of his post at the combined command. Kang told lawmakers that, while watching the National Assembly approve its demand to end martial law, he urged then-U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Paul LaCamera to trust South Korea's legal system.
The hearing also addressed the government's plan to integrate the separate academies of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Kang repeatedly said he was determined to pursue innovation in military education, indicating support for changes that would give future officers more shared training across the armed services.
However, he stopped short of endorsing every detail of the defense ministry's current blueprint. Kang said the proposal still had room for improvement and that he would examine it further if appointed. His comments suggested that academy integration would remain a significant policy issue after the confirmation process, alongside efforts to restore public trust in the military following the martial law episode.
The nominee's testimony linked his personal responsibility as a former senior commander with a broader pledge to reform military institutions. Lawmakers' scrutiny of his conduct and views reflects the continuing political impact of the 2024 crisis on appointments to the country's top security posts.