The Shocking Decision: President Lee Jae-myung Revokes Honors for 12·12 Coup Participants

Daniel Kim | 2026.03.24

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President Lee Jae‑myung speaks at Cabinet meeting(Seoul=Yonhap) Reporter Han Sang‑gyun — President Lee Jae‑myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on March 24, 2026. xyz@yna.co.kr(Seoul=Yonhap) Reporter Han Sang‑gyun — President Lee Jae‑myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on March 24, 2026. xyz@yna.co.kr

President Lee Jae‑myung said it is unthinkable that participants in the Dec. 12 military coup would receive medals, after the government moved to strip their honors.

On March 24, he shared a news article on his social media account reporting that authorities had revoked the military merit medals of 10 people who took part in Chun Doo‑whan's Dec. 12 uprising.

Earlier the same day, the Cabinet approved a measure to cancel the Chungmu Military Merit Medals awarded to 10 principal participants in the Dec. 12 coup, including former Army Chief of Staff Kim Jin‑young.

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So Jae‑hyung (sojay@yna.co.kr)