Seoul: The defense ministry announced plans to award a national order of military merit to the late Lt. Col. Kim Oh-rang, who died in 1979 while combating rebelling forces during a military coup. This recognition comes as the ministry seeks to honor him as having been "killed in action."

According to Yonhap News Agency, late Lt. Col. Kim Oh-rang lost his life in a gunfight while defending his commander against mutineers during the coup led by then Maj. Gen. Chun Doo-hwan on December 12, 1979. Earlier in the day, the Cabinet approved a motion to revoke the Order of National Security Merit previously awarded to Kim, aiming to grant him the Order of Military Merit instead.

The Order of Military Merit is one of the highest accolades awarded to service members in recognition of their sacrifice in battle or during wartime. Kim was initially awarded the Samil Medal of the Order of National Security Merit in 2014, as his death had been classified as occurring in the line of duty. However, a presidential commission on military deaths requested the defense ministry in 2022 to acknowledge his death as being killed in action.

Under military law, a service member is deemed to have been killed in action if they die due to engagement with the enemy or while preventing disturbances to public peace, such as a rebellion.