State Council Approves Revocation of Medals and Decorations for 167 Individuals Linked to 12.12 Military Rebellion and Other Illegal Acts

The government has revoked state awards for 167 individuals, including key figures of the neo-military faction who participated in the December 12 Military Rebellion and the suppression of the May 18 Democratization Movement. As a result of this measure, former Ministers Baek Woon-tak and Cho Hong, former Lt. Gen. So Jun-yeol, and former Deputy NIS Director Woo Kyung-yoon, among others implicated in the rebellion and destruction of the constitutional order, will lose their status as honorees. Additionally, 91 individuals involved in illegal acts, such as framing individuals as spies, were included.

The Ministry of National Defense cited the lack of military achievements comparable to combat duty and the fact that martial law duties abetted the destruction of constitutional order as grounds for the cancellation targeting participants in the 12.12 Incident. The National Police Agency canceled 36 awards for 20 individuals after confirming illegal confinement and torture in five cases, including the Minminjeon (People's Revolutionary Party) incident, and requested related agencies to cancel 51 Ministerial Commendations. The National Intelligence Service requested the cancellation of 86 awards for 71 individuals after confirming violations of investigative procedures and human rights abuses in 19 cases, including the spy frame-up of Korean residents in Japan. Awards for Kang Min-chang and Park Cheo-won, involved in the cover-up of the torture death of Park Jong-chol, as well as for 'torture technician' Lee Geun-an, were included in the cancellation list.

President Lee Jae-myung stated at the Cabinet meeting that the measure "effectively resolved long-standing distortions." This action marks the third time this year that the government has revoked inappropriate state awards, following previous measures in January and March.