Chungam Faction

Last updated
Chungam Faction
충암파
Leader Yoon Suk Yeol
Founders Yoon Suk Yeol
Kim Yong-hyun
Founded2022 (2022)
Membership
Ideology
Political position Conservative
Korean name
Hangul
충암파
Hanja
冲岩派
RR Chungampa
MR Ch'ungamp'a

The Chungam Faction [a] is a South Korean political faction that refers to Chungam High School alumni who held key positions within the military and government during President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration. The faction was formed in 2022, by President Yoon and Presidential Security Service Director Kim Yong-hyun, both fellow graduates of Chungam High School, after Yoon was elected as president.

Contents

Throughout his presidency, Yoon would consistently appoint politicians within the faction to higher roles, and promote military generals within the faction to higher ranks. Yoon and Kim would also host gatherings and drinking sessions with the faction in private settings. In early 2024, Yoon would begin to hold private meetings within the faction to discuss martial law. The faction has been described as Yoon's ulterior motive for a self-coup. [2]

Speculation of the faction's existence came to light in August 2024, when Yoon appointed Kim as the Minister of National Defense. The faction's existence was confirmed in December 2024, after Yoon declared emergency martial law during a televised address, in which the faction played a major role in.

Yoon and Kim were both eventually arrested for their role in the declaration. Despite this, the Chungam Faction is yet to be disbanded, with confirmed Counterintelligence Command activities within the faction occurring in January 2025. [3] The faction's existence and impact raised concerns about the potential risks of political figures surrounding themselves with loyalists. [4] Citizens have compared the faction to the Hanahoe faction of former dictator Chun Doo-hwan and his successor Roh Tae-woo. [5]

History

Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Yong-hyun met and became friends in 1977, while they were both attending Chungam High School. Kim was one year Yoon's senior. However, the two didn't become close friends until decades later in 2020, when Yoon began living a life of exile after he was suspended from his prosecutor general duties by Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae. Yoon called Kim over to have a drink, where the two had conversations about prominent political South Korean figures. This reportedly got Yoon interested in running for president. Kim also convinced Yoon to form a faction full of graduates from Chungam High School if he was elected, which resulted in the Chungam Faction later being formed. [6] [7] After Yoon was elected president, Chungam High School's website nicknamed Yoon "The Son of Chungam." [8]

Outside of Yoon and Kim, known members of the Chungam Faction include: [2] [9] [3]

Yoon and Kim met each other while they were both attending Chungam High School. Kim allegedly knew Yeo In-hyung subsequent to his graduation. [10] Since the other members of the faction graduated years apart from both Yoon and Kim, they did not know them personally. It is alleged that Yoon met them sometime during his presidential campaign. [4] It has also been speculated that Chief of Staff of the Army Park An-su may have had activities within the faction, despite him graduating from Deokwon High School  [ ko ], rather than Chungam High School. [11]

In December 2022, Yeo In-hyung was appointed as the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Chief Directorate of Operations. In November 2023, numerous military generals within the faction were appointed to lieutenant general, including Yeo In-hyung, Lee Jin-woo, and Kwak Jong-geun. Kwak had been denied the rank three times by previous administrations. [12] Yeo was appointed as the Defense Counterintelligence Commander, [10] Kwak Jong-geun was appointed as the Chief of the Army Special Warfare Command, and Lee Jin-woo was appointed as Commander of the Capital Defense Command.

In October 2023, then-Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik unsuccessfully attempted to create his own faction within the military called the Defense Faction, to compete against the Chungam Faction. [13]

Throughout 2023 and 2024, Yoon and Kim would hold private gatherings with the faction. Here, Yoon would conduct drinking sessions, as well as cook Kimchi-jjigae and Omelette as snacks. During these gatherings, they would have conversations related to the National Assembly, the Democratic Party, and the Army Special Warfare Command. [14]

After the April 2024 legislative election, in which the ruling People Power Party suffered a landslide defeat against the Democratic Party, Yoon began to mention the possibility of declaring martial law frequently. Such discussions were had in private meetings with members of the faction where Yoon, Kim Yong-hyun, and Yeo In-hyung were always present. [15]

Conjecture

Rep. Choo Mi-ae questioning Kim at his Defense Minister confirmation hearing, 2 September 2024 Choo Mi-ae questioning Kim Yong-hyun at his Defense Minister Confirmation Hearing.png
Rep. Choo Mi-ae questioning Kim at his Defense Minister confirmation hearing, 2 September 2024

Speculation of the faction's existence began in August 2024, after Yoon nominated Kim as the Minister of National Defense. Lawmakers speculated that Kim's appointment was a part of an upcoming martial law strategy to prevent First Lady Kim Keon Hee from going to prison. [16]

During his confirmation hearing on 2 September 2024, Democratic Representative Park Sun-won would point out that along with Kim's appointment, several key military positions have been filled with figures who had personal connections to Yoon, all of whom graduated from the same alma mater, Chungam High School. Park would also point out that these figures were also being promoted to higher roles consistently. Park then suggested that these key military figures could play a critical role in imposing martial law in a contingency. Kim dismissed these speculations, stating; "Confirmation hearings are not a place for false propaganda based on misinformation."

During the same hearing, Democratic Representative Choo Mi-ae would speculate that if confirmed, Kim might use his Defense Minister position to appoint his loyalists to key military roles. Choo would point out that Yeo In-hyung had received numerous promotions during Yoon's term, stating; "General Yeo In-hyung is being promoted too quickly. He will probably reach full general rank by the end of Yoon Suk Yeol's term." Choo then asked Kim if Yeo's constant promotions were apart of a strategy to center the military around Yoon's personal agenda, as she was aware that Kim and Yeo both graduated from Chungam High School. Kim denied this claim. [10]

Choo also alleged that Yoon appointing Kim as Defense Minister after appointing Yeo as Defense Counterintelligence Commander was apart of a potential imposition of martial law, claiming that the idea of two graduates of the same alma mater serving as Defense Minister and Defense Counterintelligence Commander was suspicious and potentially dangerous, as such an occurrence "has never happened before." Kim disagreed, claiming; "In the past, there have been cases where the Defense Minister and Defense Counterintelligence Commander were from the same high school." [17] Kim took office as Minister of National Defense on 6 September.

Involvement in the 2024 martial law crisis

On 3 December 2024, Yoon declared emergency martial law across the nation during a televised address. In his declaration, Yoon accused the Democratic Party (DPK), which has a majority in the National Assembly, of conducting "anti-state activities" and collaborating with "North Korean communists" to destroy the country, thereby creating a "legislative dictatorship". The order prohibited political activities, including gatherings of the National Assembly and local legislatures, and suspended the free press.

Following the declaration, Yeo In-hyung gave National Intelligence Service (NIS) Deputy Director Hong Jang-won a list of individuals targeted for arrest which Hong could not recall completely:

Upon hearing that lawmakers were trying to vote down the declaration, President Yoon then ordered Kwak Jong-keun and Lee Jin-woo to break through the plenary chamber doors to drag the lawmakers out at 00:40 to 00:50 hours, which was too late as the lawmakers had begun the session to end martial law at that time. Yoon also called Police Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho several times and instructed him to arrest all the lawmakers trying to enter the National Assembly, stating "Bring them in. It's illegal. All the lawmakers are violating the proclamation. Arrest them." Yoon also told Lee; "Break down the doors, even if it means shooting." When he was notified the lawmakers had begun the session to end martial law, Yoon ordered Kwak to "break down the door with an axe and go in and get them all out." Kim also ordered; "Stop the number of National Assembly members so that it is less than 150. Bring the National Assembly members out." Kim also prioritized the arrests and detention of Lee Jae Myung, Woo Won-shik, and Han Dong-hoon from the National Assembly. [18]

At 01:02 on 4 December, 190 legislators who had arrived at the National Assembly Proceeding Hall unanimously passed a motion to lift martial law, [19] despite attempts by the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command to prevent the vote. At 04:30, Yoon and his cabinet lifted martial law and soon disbanded the Martial Law Command. The opposition subsequently began impeachment proceedings against Yoon and said it would continue to do so if he did not resign.

The declaration was opposed by both parties and resulted in protests. Due to the Chungam Faction's involvement in the declaration, the event was widely characterized by news organizations, both international and domestic, and Korean politicians as an attempted self-coup.

Following the martial law declaration, the Democratic party called for Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun's impeachment for proposing martial law to Yoon, and intended to file a criminal complaint against him. On 5 December, the police investigated Yoon and other key officials for alleged insurrection [20] in response to a case filed by minor opposition parties and 59 activists accusing them of treason. [21] The investigations led to the Chungam Faction being publicly discovered. Amid widespread criticism and mass protests, an impeachment motion was introduced against Yoon the next day, [22] though it fell short of the 200 votes needed to pass. [23] [24] [25] Yoon was successfully impeached and suspended from his presidential powers in a second vote ten days later, with 204 voting in favor, including 12 members of his own party. [26]

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned the same day and issued an apology. [27] The Ministry of Justice barred Kim from leaving the country following rumors that he booked a flight to flee overseas to avoid prosecution. [28] [29] The DPK planned to appoint a permanent special counsel to investigate Yoon for treason [30] and considered filing charges against PPP Floor Leader Cho Kyung-ho, who urged PPP lawmakers to assemble at the party's headquarters rather than the Assembly. [31] On 8 December, Kim Yong-hyun was arrested on suspicion of committing insurrection by advising Yoon to declare martial law and sending troops into the National Assembly to seize the legislature. [32] [33] He could potentially be sentenced to life in prison, or the death penalty if found guilty. [34]

Yoon Suk Yeol was summoned three times by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for questioning on 18 December, 25 December, and 29 December over his declaration of martial law. He ignored all three summonses. [35] In response, on 30 December, the CIO filed an arrest warrant for Yoon at the Seoul Western District Court. [36] On the morning of 15 January, Yoon was arrested at his residence where he had been since the impeachment. Police used wire-cutters and ladders to enter Yoon's residence in order to bypass barricades and barbed wire fortifications. After his arrest Yoon was brought to the CIO, where he agreed to an interrogation. [37] [38] Yoon was the country's first sitting president to be arrested. [38] [39] [40] On 4 April, the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld Yoon's impeachment by the National Assembly, officially terminating his presidency. [41] Yoon announced his departure from the PPP in May. [42] As well as Kim Yong-hyun, Yoon is currently being investigated for heading an insurrection, and may face either life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted. [43]

The National Assembly later called for the exclusion from office of those referred to as members of the Chungam Faction within the Counterintelligence Command. Despite this, even after the arrests of the faction's founders, the Chungam Faction is yet to be disbanded. In January 2025, the faction led personnel changes for Counterintelligence Command officers after the martial law declaration. [3]

On 21 August 2025, former Minister Lee Sang-min was interviewed by prosecutors. Here, it was confirmed that Yoon only appointed Lee as Minister of Interior and Safety because he graduated from Chungam High School, and that he and Kim "hardly knew each other." Lee also denied the charge of ordering the Fire Department Commissioner to cut off power and water to media outlets on the day of the martial law order, however the Fire Department Commissioner maintains that he received the order. [44]

On 27 August, it was discovered by prosecutors that sometime in early 2024, Yeo In-hyung invited Ahn Sung-sik, a former planning and coordination officer at the Korea Coast Guard who attended Chungam High School with Yeo, to meet up with him and two other members of the Chungam Faction to have dinner. The conversations Ahn had with Yeo and the two faction members were never disclosed to the public. [45]

Reception

PD Note's coverage on the Chungam Faction

Following the 2024 martial law declaration, Democratic Representative Kim Min-seok criticized Yoon's administration including the Chungam Faction, stating that Yoon's administration "is so bad at governance that they have no way of preventing their replacement other than martial law, terrorism, and mobilizing the legal system against their opponents". [2]

As a result of the declaration, the Chungam High School staff and students received public backlash by citizens over the faction. In return, the school ultimately announced that students were not mandated to wear their uniforms to school until graduation in an attempt to protect them from harassment. [46] They also confirmed they had no association with both the declaration and the faction. Chungam High School Foundation Chairwoman Yoon Myung-hwa called Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Yong-hyun "shameful graduates" in a social media post, [47] and would state in another post; "The school’s office is flooded with complaint calls all day, and even school bus drivers report being harassed by citizens passing by. There’s even a petition to change the school’s name. The school’s reputation and the country’s honor are tarnished. What kind of mental anguish must our students be enduring?"

The Korea Times editor Min Seong-jae, a fellow graduate of Chungam High School, commented on the faction stating; "If you are the president or a public official, it is dangerous to surround yourself with loyalists. You only hear what you want to hear. There is no system of checks and balances. And eventually, group interest takes over public interest. This is anti-democratic. Democracy thrives on differences. Instead, Yoon’s dangerous idea seems to have been only reinforced by his inner circle, eventually undermining the well-being of society as a whole." Min later stated; "When a government is filled with people who think alike, dissenting voices are silenced. The result is a system that prioritizes self-preservation over public service." [4]

References

  1. ↑ Korean : 충암파; also known as the Chungampa Faction and Yoon's Chungam High School line. [1]
  1. ↑ "President Yoon Suk Yeol and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun's alma mater..." Maeil Business Newspaper. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "This lawmaker sounded the alarm about martial law in August — here's how he knew". The Hankyoreh. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "[Exclusive] First Counterintelligence Officer Appointment After Civil War, Led by 'Chungam Faction'... Including Im Jong-deuk's Son". OhMyNews (in Korean). 22 January 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol relied on high school alumni". The Korea Times. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Old boys' club? S Korea plotters' high school links in spotlight". France 24. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  6. ↑ 대통령실 용산 설계자…뼛속까지 군인, 김용현 [Presidential Office Yongsan Designer… Soldier to the bone, Kim Yong-hyun]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  7. ↑ 尹이 가장 먼저 따낸 '별'...'1호인사' 김용현 45년전 교련복 추억 [尹의 사람들 [Yoon's first 'star'…'Person No. 1' Kim Yong-hyun's memories of military training uniforms from 45 years ago [Yoon's People]]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  8. ↑ 내란 연루만 4명인데…윤석열 모교 동문회 "충암의 아들, 수고하셨다" [Only 4 people involved in internal rebellion… Yoon Seok-yeol’s alma mater alumni association: “Son of Chungam, thank you for your hard work”]. Nate (in Korean). Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  9. ↑ 계엄 주도한 尹 측근 '충암파', '내란의 주역' 오명으로 기록될까. Monthly JoongAng (in Korean). 7 December 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  10. 1 2 3 추미애 의원, 충암고 끼리 다 해쳐먹나?? on YouTube
  11. ↑ Park, An-su (2005). A Study on the Interrelation between Leadership and Organizational Members (Master's thesis). Graduate School of Dongguk University. pp. iv, 67. doi:10.23216/dgu.000000001196.11020.0000202 . Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  12. ↑ [스피디(sPeeD) 수첩] 술 마시며 계엄을 모의했다? 용산 관저에서의 비밀 회동 on YouTube
  13. ↑ 군 장성·보직 쓸어담는 ‘김용현 충암파’…‘윤석열 친위체제’ 구축 ['Kim Yong-hyun's Chungam faction' sweeping up military generals and positions... 'Yoon Seok-yeol's close associates' established]. Hani.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  14. ↑ [스피디(sPeeD) 수첩] 술 마시며 계엄을 모의했다? 용산 관저에서의 비밀 회동 on YouTube
  15. ↑ "Ex-DCC chief claims Yoon mentioned martial law in 2023". The Korea Herald . 20 December 2024.
  16. ↑ Ji-won, Um (4 September 2024). "[News analysis] Why is Korea's Democratic Party talking about martial law?". The Hankyoreh . Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  17. ↑ Lee, Hyo-jin (2 September 2024). "Defense minister nominee rebukes rumors about gov't plan to declare martial law". The Korea Times . Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  18. ↑ "尹 "총 쏴서라도 끌어내, 이재명∙한동훈부터 잡아"...檢 공소장 적시". Korea JoongAng Daily . 27 December 2024.
  19. ↑ Jung, Min-kyung (4 December 2024). "Assembly speaker declares martial law as invalid". The Korea Herald . Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  20. ↑ "South Korea police investigate President Yoon as ruling party vows to block impeachment". The Guardian.
  21. ↑ Yi, Wonju (5 December 2024). "(LEAD) Police open investigation into treason charges against Yoon". Yonhap News Agency . Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  22. ↑ Kim, Hyung-jin; Kim, Tong-hyung (4 December 2024). "South Korea's opposition parties move to impeach president over sudden declaration of martial law". Associated Press . Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  23. ↑ Phillips, Aleks (7 December 2024). "South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol survives impeachment vote". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  24. ↑ "South Korean parliament passes bill seeking counsel probe of Yoon". Al Jazeera English. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  25. ↑ "South Korea president to resign despite surviving impeachment vote, party says". France 24. 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  26. ↑ Kim, Hyung-jin; Kim, Tong-hyung (14 December 2024). "South Korea's parliament votes to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law order". AP News. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  27. ↑ "South Korea's defence minister resigns over martial law crisis". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  28. ↑ "Who is Kim Yong-hyun, ousted South Korean defence minister who attempted suicide?". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  29. ↑ Yongjun, Kim (5 December 2024). "[단독] 김용현 전 국방장관 '해외 도피설' 등 "사실 무근, 조사에 당당하게 응할 것"". KBS. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
  30. ↑ Kim, Arin (5 December 2024). "Special counsel probe sought over Yoon Suk Yeol's 'treason'". The Korea Herald . Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  31. ↑ "South Korea's governing party head supports suspending Yoon's powers, making impeachment more likely". Associated Press. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  32. ↑ "Prosecution arrests ex-defense minister over treason charges". The Korea Times . 8 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  33. ↑ Son, Ji-hyoung (8 December 2024). "[Breaking] Ex-Defense Minister arrested for insurrection, abuse of authority". The Korea Herald . Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  34. ↑ Jung, Min-ho (4 December 2024). "Defense minister faces treason charges for proposing declaration of martial law". The Korea Times . Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  35. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (29 December 2024). "(2nd LD) Yoon snubs 3rd summons for questioning in martial law investigation". Yonhap News Agency .
  36. ↑ Kim, Tong-hyung (30 December 2024). "South Korean authorities seek warrant to detain impeached President Yoon in martial law probe". AP News .
  37. ↑ "south-koreas-yoon-likely-be-held-solitary-cell". Reuters. 15 January 2025.
  38. 1 2 "Authorities arrest president Yoon Suk Yeol after dramatic hours-long standoff". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  39. ↑ "South Korea's Yoon Finally Arrested by Investigators". Bloomberg.com. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  40. ↑ Max Saltman; Gawon Bae; Yoonjung Seo; Simone McCarthy; Lex Harvey (2025-01-14). "South Korean president arrested by anti-corruption investigators after weekslong showdown". CNN. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  41. ↑ [헌재 결정문 전문] 헌재, 만장일치로 尹 탄핵소추안 인용 [[Full text of Constitutional Court decision] Constitutional Court unanimously upholds the impeachment motion against Yoon]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 4 April 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  42. ↑ "South Korea ex-President Yoon leaves conservative party as candidate trails liberal frontrunner". Reuters. 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  43. ↑ "South Korea: Yoon charged with insurrection over martial law attempt". BBC. 2025-01-27. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  44. ↑ "[단독] 충암파 이상민 "김용현? 학교 같아도 가까운 사이 아냐"". Nate (in Korean). 21 August 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  45. ↑ "[단독] '계엄 가담 의혹' 안성식, 이상민-여인형 만남에 동석…3명 모두 충암파". Hani.co (in Korean). 27 August 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  46. ↑ "Yoon's alma mater cancels uniform mandate over school ties to alumni behind martial law order". Korea JoongAng Daily . Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  47. ↑ "Choongam chair calls Yoon, former defense minister 'shameful graduates'". The Korea Times . 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
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