Marine Corps Veterans Association "Disappointed with Current Situation... Military Must Take Responsibility"

Statement from Former Commanders and Marine Corps Veterans Association
"Acts that Tarnish Military Honor Can No Longer Be Tolerated"
"Chae Su-geun's Marine Self-Sacrifice... Must Prevent Tragic Recurrence"

Former Marine Corps Commanders and the Marine Corps Veterans Association expressed their deep disappointment over the controversy surrounding the death in the line of duty of the late Corporal Chae Su-geun.

In a statement released on the 14th, the former commanders and the Marine Corps Veterans Association stated, "With a patriotic heart that we must no longer tolerate actions that tarnish the honor of the military, we, along with senior military officials, wish to firmly express our position in the name of the one million members of the Marine Corps Veterans Association."

Kim Gye-hwan, Commandant of the Marine Corps, paying respects.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

They continued, "In investigating the responsibility for the accident, the military must reach a clear conclusion with a spirit of resolving the matter by itself, without external interference," and urged, "The investigation conditions must be guaranteed so that it proceeds fairly and swiftly according to law and principles." They also emphasized, "We must comfort the bereaved family so that Corporal Chae Su-geun's self-sacrifice remains a true symbol of the Marine Corps, clearly identify the cause of this tragic incident, and establish strong countermeasures to prevent recurrence."

Previously, former Marine Corps Investigation Unit Commander Colonel Park Jeong-hoon attempted to hand over the investigation results, which indicated that eight individuals including the commander of the 1st Marine Division were suspected of negligent homicide in relation to Corporal Chae’s death, to the police with the approval of the Minister of National Defense. However, the Ministry of National Defense changed its stance to 'withhold transfer,' and when Colonel Park opposed this, he was charged with 'leading collective insubordination.' Colonel Park has claimed that there was external pressure to downplay the incident and has refused to cooperate with the military prosecution investigation, escalating the controversy.

Former Marine Investigation Unit Commander Applies for Investigation Review Committee..."Concerns Over Fairness"

Park Jung-hoon, former commander of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Colonel Park Jeong-hoon is expected to apply for the convening of the 'Military Prosecution Investigation Review Committee' on this day. The Investigation Review Committee was established to enhance fairness in handling cases that raise public suspicion or attract social attention, such as the death of the late Air Force Staff Sergeant Lee Ye-ram. The committee consists of 5 to 20 members, including civilians, and reviews whether to continue investigations, file charges, or request arrest warrants.

However, applying for convening does not guarantee that the committee will be held. Upon receiving an application, the Chief Prosecutor of the Ministry of National Defense selects five members from the review committee to discuss whether to address the issue. The decision on whether to hold the committee depends on their judgment. Since the Ministry of National Defense inevitably intervenes in the member selection process, some voices have raised doubts about whether the procedure will be conducted fairly.

In particular, controversy has arisen as the Ministry of National Defense’s Legal Affairs Officer, who is one of the parties involved in this case, is reportedly handling the related procedures. Colonel Park’s side claims that the Legal Affairs Officer pressured them by phone on the 1st to "remove the charges and exclude the suspects and allegations," while the Ministry denies this.

At a regular briefing on the same day, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jeon Ha-gyu explained, "Review committee members are selected based on recommendations from civilian legal professional organizations." When asked, "Shouldn’t the Legal Affairs Officer be excluded from the selection process?" he responded, "The Legal Affairs Officer will ensure that the committee is handled according to laws and regulations within the given authority and role," adding, "We will review whether the opinion that they should be excluded is legally appropriate."

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