Bereaved Families of Double Victims: "Military Investigation Review Committee is the Ministry of National Defense's Shield"

Citizens are visiting the condolence altar at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on the 6th to pay their respects to the late Sergeant Lee, who endured sexual violence by a senior officer and attempts at persuasion within the Air Force before taking her own life. / Seongnam = Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The family of Sergeant Lee Mo of the Air Force 20th Fighter Wing, who made an extreme choice after reporting sexual harassment, claimed that the military prosecution investigation review committee system "feels like just a shield for the Ministry of National Defense Joint Investigation Team" and strongly requested a parliamentary-level investigation.

On the 28th, Sergeant Lee’s parents held a press conference at the National Capital Armed Forces Hospital funeral hall in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, stating, "To uncover the substantive truth of the case, the current Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters (Investigation Headquarters) and the Inspector General’s Office level investigations are inappropriate, and a national audit is inevitable."

The bereaved family expressed strong dissatisfaction with the investigation and inquiry situation of the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters and the Inspector General’s Office. While the Ministry of National Defense is conducting investigations divided into three branches?the prosecution team, the investigation headquarters, and the Inspector General’s Office?the investigation and inquiry by the investigation headquarters and the Inspector General’s Office are relatively insufficient compared to the prosecution team.

In particular, regarding the Investigation Headquarters, which is investigating suspicions of initial investigation negligence at the 20th Fighter Wing, they criticized, "They maintained an attitude that there was no criminal issue related to the initial investigation and only announced the indictment of one person after being pressured by the media," adding, "They admitted that they themselves have no standards or will for the investigation."

In fact, the Investigation Headquarters initially planned to indict only one investigator responsible for the initial investigation, but after the investigation review committee recommended that the commander of the 20th Fighter Wing Military Police Battalion, who was only going to be subjected to internal disciplinary action, also be criminally indicted, they belatedly announced the criminal indictment on the same day.

Sergeant Lee’s father also claimed that the military prosecution investigation review committee system, introduced by the Ministry of National Defense to enhance the objectivity and transparency of the investigation into this case, "feels like just a shield for the Ministry of National Defense Joint Investigation Team."

When asked whether he believes that the ongoing Ministry of National Defense investigation should be immediately converted into a national audit, Sergeant Lee’s father answered, "Yes."

The bereaved family also said that they only recently learned through media reports that Sergeant Lee left a de facto suicide note implying an extreme choice in his phone’s memo pad the day after the sexual harassment incident on March 3, stating, "The more new facts we learn, the more painful it becomes." They added that this was the reason they decided to come forward and hold the press conference.

The memo was left by Sergeant Lee during a meeting with his direct superior, Staff Sergeant Noh Mo (who has been detained and indicted), and was revealed when the prosecution team reported it at the 4th investigation review committee held on the 25th. The memo reportedly contained the content: "The organization abandoned me. I don’t understand why I am the perpetrator. There is no reason to live anymore. I am sorry for leaving first."

This is the first time Sergeant Lee’s family has publicly expressed their position regarding the military’s investigation.

It has been 27 days since the Ministry of National Defense formed the Joint Investigation Team and began the investigation on the 1st. It is 118 days since the sexual harassment incident occurred and 38 days since the presumed date of death (May 21).

Sergeant Lee’s father and mother both attended the press conference. The father personally wore Sergeant Lee’s military dog tag around his neck and showed it to the press, appealing, "Please protect my daughter’s honor. Please reveal the truth."

Sergeant Lee’s mother sobbed emotionally from the beginning of the conference and fainted, requiring urgent removal midway through the event.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.