section_path: Opinion polling/Impact on South Korean military personnel
section_name: Impact on South Korean military personnel
paragraph_text: Impact on South Korean military personnel
  
  Concerns have been raised about morale and combat readiness in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, following reported distrust in their own military leaders by rank-and-file troops after being sent to execute orders, and suspensions of senior military officials implicated or under investigations for their roles in the martial law declaration, potentially leading to leadership vacuums and low morale.
  
  On 18 December, the Ministry of National Defense found "at least several dozen soldiers" were at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and required special care, after conducting psychological evaluations on all personnel dispatched during the martial law incident. The Ministry also reported that many were likely reluctant to seek counseling due to fear of being identified for their roles in the martial law operations. In response, the ministry introduced a civilian psychological counseling program to ensure anonymous support for affected troops. A report by JTBC on 27 February 2025 found that the ministry deemed 71 soldiers as in need of treatment for mental health issues following a psychological evaluation, with two of them in a dangerous category.