Deputy Defense Minister Shin Beom-cheol Reports to National Assembly on Chae Sang-byeong

Explanation of Conflicting Claims Between Marine Corps Investigation Unit Chief and Ministry of National Defense

Shin Beom-cheol, Deputy Minister of National Defense, will meet with ruling and opposition members of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee to report on the death of the late Corporal Chae Su-geun.

Shin Beom-cheol, Deputy Minister of National Defense, attended the 4th meeting of the Democratic Party's West Sea Civil Servant Death Incident Task Force held at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 7th, listening with a serious expression to remarks by Kim Byung-joo, Task Force Leader. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the afternoon of the 10th, Deputy Minister Shin is scheduled to visit the National Assembly and meet sequentially with ruling party members such as Han Ki-ho, chairman of the committee from the People Power Party, and opposition party members including Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party, who serve on the National Defense Committee. Deputy Minister Shin is expected to explain the Ministry of National Defense’s position regarding the significant discrepancies between the Marine Corps investigation team, which conducted the preliminary investigation into Corporal Chae’s death, and the Ministry’s claims, as well as the allegations of 'higher-up involvement.'

On the evening of the 8th, the Ministry of National Defense sent a message to the press corps stating, "Deputy Minister Shin Beom-cheol has never sent any messages to the Marine Corps Commander regarding the death incident of the late Corporal Chae Su-geun, nor has he mentioned any specific individuals." The Ministry added, "Following the Minister of National Defense’s instructions, after the minister’s return from a business trip, legal issues were thoroughly reviewed, and the case was instructed to be transferred to the police." It also stated, "We plan to request a correction of related reports and take legal action."

Previously, Corporal Chae was deployed on the 19th of last month to search for missing persons affected by heavy rain in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk Province, and tragically died after being swept away by a strong current. The Marine Corps investigation team, which investigated the incident, reported on the 30th of last month that they would transfer eight individuals, including Im Seong-geun, commander of the 1st Marine Division to which Corporal Chae belonged, to the police on charges including negligent homicide. Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop approved the report.

However, the following day, Minister Lee ordered a suspension of the police transfer, but Colonel Park Jeong-hoon, head of the investigation team who did not receive this order directly, handed over the investigation report to the police. The military dismissed Colonel Park from his post and filed charges against him for "leading collective insubordination." In response, Colonel Park released a statement under his real name asserting his innocence, which has further intensified the controversy surrounding Corporal Chae’s case.

On the 9th, the Ministry of National Defense transferred the Corporal Chae case to a direct investigation headquarters and ordered a re-examination of the Marine Corps investigation team’s findings.

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