Network Structure Of General-Level Officers And The December 3 Declaration Of Martial Law In South Korea

• In Event: Asia and Asian American Section Roundtables Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 2: Asia and Asian American Section Roundtables Session - Law and Governance

Abstract

This study examines the structure of general-level military promotions in the Republic of Korea (ROK) Armed Forces during the administrations of Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in, and Yoon Seok-yeol. Motivated by the December 3, 2024 declaration of martial law and the subsequent compliance of senior commanders, the study investigates whether patterns of elite circulation and promotion networks may help explain organizational obedience under unconstitutional orders. Rather than attributing responsibility to individual ethics, the research focuses on the structural dynamics of promotion decision-making at the general level. Using publicly available personnel data from Ministry of National Defense press releases and media reports, a network dataset of major general (MG), lieutenant general (LTG), and general (GEN) promotions and transfers was constructed. A bipartite person–position network was first generated and then projected into a one-mode officer network based on shared academy background and shared career postings. Network measures—including density, modularity, clustering, centralization, k-core structure, and assortativity—were calculated for each administration. An additional node-level attribute distinguished between “asphalt” (rear institutional postings) and “field” officers. The results reveal significant structural differences across administrations. The Yoon administration’s network exhibits lower density and clustering, higher modularity, and stronger degree centralization, suggesting a more fragmented yet internally concentrated structure. Notably, all eight generals indicted or punished in connection with the December 3 incident were located at the periphery of the integrated promotion network. These findings indicate that elite closure, segmentation, and peripheral vulnerability may have contributed to organizational compliance. The study contributes to civil–military relations scholarship by demonstrating how network structures of elite promotion shape institutional behavior beyond formal hierarchy.

Author

• Youngeun Cho, Korea University