Chilling Report Reveals Korean Military Purchased Unusually Large Number Of Body Bags Around Yoon Suk Yeol’s Martial Law Declaration
A recent report about the South Korean military’s suddenly increased purchase of body bags around the time Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law has brought forth some chilling speculations.
According to a local media outlet and a lawmaker, the military purchased a substantially larger number of body bags than usual around December 3, when the now-suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. MBC reported on March 18 evening that the Army had 4,940 body bags in December 2024, but the number was 1,826 in November. The data provided by Rep. Choo Mi Ae of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea also showed that throughout 2024, the Army had less than 2,000 body bags on hand until December, when it spiked by more than 3,000.
After this report went public, the Army explained that the extra body bags were residual orders made before but were just delivered in December “in accordance with the military’s five-year plan made in 2022.” The five-year plan in question refers to the 2023-2027 defense budget that outlined the expenditure plan for ₩331 trillion KRW (about $227 billion USD) on military infrastructure, including acquiring antiballistic missile capacities against North Korea’s ballistic missiles. The plan did not mention increasing the stockpile of body bags, nor were there any public announcements about other long-term military plans.
MBC also pointed out that South Korea’s military deaths are fewer than 100 per year, further raising questions about why the Army suddenly needed such a large amount of body bags.
Notably, it was also reported that a military official from the Army’s II Corp contacted a civilian company that manufactures cardboard coffins to inquire about potentially ordering 1000 temporary coffins. The official in question reportedly asked how long the order would take, explaining the situation as, “What if 3,000 people died, for instance?”
The purchase of the coffins, however, never went through. The II Corp. said that the inquiry was made after a discussion within the military about potential battle deaths during the South Korea-US joint Ulchi-Freedom Guardian drills last year. The purchase plan was apparently scrapped due to practical reasons.
Rep. Choo, however, has continued to raise questions about these ominous purchases on her social media account. She claimed that the military’s purchase of over 3,000 body bags around the same time as Yoon’s martial law decree was evidence that those involved in the plot were preparing for a large number of fatalities under the planned military rule.
The insurrection forces weren’t just dreaming about (doing) evil. They thoroughly prepared for it… This shows their horrific murderous intent.
— Rep. Choo Mi Ae
Rep. Choo cited military data on her Facebook account, which showed that the Army has had less than 1900 body bags in stock in the past four years. In December 2021, the number was 1,106; in 2022, it was 1,565; and in 2023, it rose to 1,890. The Army also told her that such orders are only made once a year.
Though it is unclear whether the body bags were acquired before Yoon declared martial law or if it was related to his military rule plan, some fear that it might be connected to the bone-chilling plan devised by Noh Sang Won, the ex-commander of the Korean Defense Intelligence Command (military intelligence organization). Noh stands accused of conspiring with Yoon in the martial law plot. During the investigation, authorities found Noh’s notebook containing plans for the “collection” of multiple individuals.
The notes, labeled as “targets to collect,” listed the names of outspoken critics of the Yoon government. These included advocates from civic groups and labor unions, former and incumbent justices, and even high-profile liberal politicians such as Democratic Party Chair Rep. Lee Jae Myung and former President Moon Jae In. The latter two, along with other political party Reps.s, were categorized as “A-level collection targets.”
The notes also stated the different methods for treating these targets: “Accident, gas, explosion, sinking while on the way to the collection spot.” Concerningly enough, one of the “collection” spots mentioned in the notes was the Oeum-ri village in Hwacheon, where a regiment of the II Corp is situated.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has delayed its verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial, sparking anxiety and outrage in the Korean public.
Stay tuned for more updates.
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