Marine Corps Denies Request for Disclosure of Information on the Family of Deceased Soldier Chae Sang-byeong

Request for Bereaved Families Briefing Materials, Investigation Team Case Transfer Documents, etc.
Ministry of National Defense: "Non-disclosure Due to Difficulties in Duty Performance and Other Reasons"

The Marine Corps Command has refused the request for disclosure of investigation records related to the family of the late Corporal Chae.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the bereaved family on the 17th, they requested the Marine Corps Command to disclose the list of records of materials that the Marine Corps investigation team intended to transfer to the Gyeongbuk Police Agency, the briefing materials explained to the family by the investigation team, and the case handover document containing the charges identified by the investigation team. However, the Marine Corps decided not to disclose these materials and reportedly notified the family of this policy the day before.

Jeon Ha-gyu, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, explained at a regular briefing that it seems the Marine Corps judged that the information falls under non-disclosure because there are substantial reasons to believe that disclosure would significantly hinder the performance of duties or infringe on the defendant's right to a fair trial.

At the end of last month, the investigation report, which the Marine Corps investigation team reported to their superiors and received approval for, stated that eight related personnel, including Division Commander Lim Seong-geun of the 1st Marine Division to which Corporal Chae belonged, were suspected of professional negligence resulting in death.

Colonel Park Jeong-hoon, former head of the Marine Corps investigation team, reported this report to Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan on the 28th of last month, and on the 30th to Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop and Chief of Naval Operations Lee Jong-ho. Minister Lee Jong-seop, Chief Lee Jong-ho, and Commander Kim Gye-hwan signed the report by hand to approve it. The Ministry of National Defense later changed its policy to withhold the transfer to the police, and Colonel Park, who did not comply, was initially charged with "leading collective insubordination" but the charge was later changed to "insubordination." Regarding this, Colonel Park's side claims that on August 1, the Ministry of National Defense's legal affairs officer instructed the police by phone to remove the charges and the suspects and allegations from the investigation report to be handed over, but the Ministry denies this and disputes the claim.

Attorney Kim Kyung-ho, representing Colonel Park, stated that although there is no recording of the phone conversation between the legal affairs officer and Colonel Park, the call was made on speakerphone and two others, including the head of the central investigation unit, listened in.

Meanwhile, the bereaved family is suffering as unrelated disputes continue, putting aside the prompt investigation into the circumstances of Corporal Chae's death in the line of duty. The family requested the Marine Corps Command and the 1st Marine Division the day before not to use Corporal Chae's real name in reports, saying, "The continuous mention of Corporal Chae's name causes severe mental distress."

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