Summary of the Incident
On May 13th, former Marine Division Commander Lim Seong-geun appeared at the Gyeongbuk Police Criminal Investigation Unit to be questioned regarding Corporal Chae’s tragic death. Following an in-depth investigation by the police review committee, it was concluded that out of the 9 suspects, 6 had charges substantiated against them, while 3, including former Marine Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, were cleared of any wrongdoing.
Details of the Investigation
On July 5th, Gyeongbuk Police announced the review committee's decision regarding the incident. The committee determined that 6 individuals would be referred for prosecution, while 3, including Lim, would not face charges. The committee chose not to disclose specific deliberation details or vote results to maintain fairness and transparency in the investigation process. The review committee's opinions do not bind the final police investigation results.
Review Committee Composition
The police review committee consisted of 11 external members: 5 law professors, 4 legal professionals, and 2 public figures. This committee analyzed the police investigation results and discussed the applicability of the charges to the suspects. The police received related case records for 8 individuals from the Ministry of Defense and added another military individual during their investigation, bringing the total to 9 suspects.
Initial Investigation by Marine Corps Investigation Unit
The Marine Corps Investigation Unit initially reported on July 30th that 8 individuals, including Lim, were culpable for Corporal Chae’s death due to professional negligence. Despite the Defense Minister at the time, Lee Jong-seop, approving this report, he later halted the investigation and ordered a suspension of the media briefing. Regardless, the Marine Corps transferred the case to the police on August 2nd, and the Ministry of Defense’s prosecution team retrieved the records the same evening.
Further Review by Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense ordered a re-evaluation of the incident, which led to the records being handed over to the Gyeongbuk Police on August 21st, pinpointing only two battalion commanders for their involvement. During the military trial of Colonel Park Jung-hoon, who was indicted for disobedience, it was revealed that the initial investigation results had been altered. The Ministry of Defense’s legal and prosecution teams suggested only documenting the facts regarding Lim and other senior officers without charging them, leading to changes in the investigation’s findings.
Final Report Announcement
The final results of the investigation are scheduled to be announced on July 8th at 2 PM in a briefing at the Gyeongbuk Police Office, where no photo or video recording will be allowed.
Reflection
This case highlights the complexities and challenges of military investigations and the importance of transparency and accountability in such serious incidents. The mixed outcomes for the accused individuals underscore the necessity for thorough and unbiased investigations to ensure justice and uphold public trust.
Stay tuned for the final announcement of the investigation results to understand the full implications of this case.
