Soldiers prepare to enter the main hall of the National Assembly in Seoul in the wee hours of Dec. 4, 2024, following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Thursday it will launch a special task force to quickly complete an internal investigation into ministry officials who allegedly participated in or aided the Dec. 3 martial law attempt, as the government moves to restore public trust and reinforce constitutional norms.
The “Constitution-Respecting Government Innovation Task Force,” led by Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung and composed of 12 members including external advisers, will operate from Nov. 24 through Jan. 30. The ministry said outside experts were included to ensure objectivity and neutrality in the review process.
The task force will examine whether Interior Ministry personnel directly participated in or assisted the attempted declaration of emergency martial law, which the current administration has framed as a grave breach of constitutional order. Investigators will conduct the review swiftly within the bounds of due process, the ministry said, and plan disciplinary or personnel measures against key responsible individuals once findings are finalized.
In addition, a reporting center will operate on the ministry’s website through Dec. 12 to gather information from the public and civil servants regarding any involvement by ministry officials in the Dec. 3 incident.
The move comes after the government decided during a Nov. 11 Cabinet meeting to establish “constitution-respecting” reform task forces across all 49 central administrative agencies. The Interior Ministry is among 12 bodies designated for intensified scrutiny.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
