Human Rights Commission: "Ministry of National Defense Must Transfer Investigation Materials of Late Corporal Chae Su-geun to Police"

The National Defense Ministry did not hand over the investigation materials related to the late Corporal Chae Su-geun, who was swept away by a rapid current and died while searching for flood victims, to the police, prompting the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) to issue a statement expressing concern.

National Human Rights Commission [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, Kim Yong-won, the Military Human Rights Protection Officer of the NHRCK, held an emergency press conference in the afternoon and released a statement saying, "We are deeply concerned about the current situation."

Officer Kim stated, "The Defense Ministry's prosecution team must transfer all investigation materials from the Marine Corps investigation team, which are currently held after being retrieved from the police, back to the police without omission," adding, "If the investigation materials are not sent or are selectively sent, suspicions of downplaying and covering up the incident will grow uncontrollably."

He also said, "The Marine Corps' procedures to remove the Marine Corps investigation team leader from his post, as well as investigations into collective insubordination, abuse of authority, and breach of confidentiality, must be immediately suspended," and added, "Removing someone from their post or initiating investigations into abuse of authority charges before the conclusion of the investigation could severely undermine the independence of military investigative agencies and should be refrained from."

Corporal Chae, belonging to the 1st Marine Division, went missing around 9 a.m. on the 19th of last month while searching for missing persons in Naeseongcheon, Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, without wearing a life jacket, and was swept away by a rapid current and died. The Marine Corps had announced the investigation results related to Corporal Chae's accident to the National Assembly and the media on the 31st of last month and planned to transfer the case to the police but suddenly canceled the transfer.

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