Ministry of National Defense to Soon Conclude 'Chaesangbyeong Case Review'

'Command Team Charges' Likely Maintained
Some Junior Officers Expected to Be Excluded from Charges

The conclusion on the death case of the late Marine Corps soldier Chae Sang-byeong, in which the Ministry of National Defense reversed the police referral and had the direct investigative agency conduct a reexamination, is reportedly imminent.

According to military sources on the 17th, the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, similar to the initial investigation by the Marine Corps Investigation Team, has judged that charges of professional negligence resulting in death should be applied to the command, including Im Seong-geun, commander of the 1st Marine Division, and has reportedly almost completed the reexamination.

The burial ceremony of the late Corporal Chae Su-geun was held on the afternoon of the 22nd of last month at the National Daejeon National Cemetery.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Investigation Headquarters is also said to have examined circumstances where, when Chae Sang-byeong’s unit was deployed to the search site for missing persons due to heavy rain in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk Province, the Army’s 50th Division had operational control authority, yet Commander Im was involved in the command.

The investigation report, which former Marine Corps Investigation Team leader Colonel Park Jeong-hoon reported to and received approval from Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop at the end of last month, included the content that eight related personnel, including Commander Im, would be referred to the police on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.

However, as a result of the Investigation Headquarters’ reexamination, it is understood that the prevailing opinion is that it is difficult to prove a direct causal relationship between the death and negligence for some junior officers, making it difficult to apply charges of professional negligence resulting in death.

On the same day, the Ministry of National Defense maintained a cautious stance, stating, "The Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters is conducting a reexamination of the 'Marine Corps Investigation Team’s investigation results,' and no decisions have been made. We ask that speculative reports on unconfirmed facts be refrained from."

Previously, the Ministry of National Defense dismissed former Investigation Team leader Park Jeong-hoon from his post and filed charges of 'collective insubordination leader' against him for violating orders not to transfer the investigation results to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency and instead referring the case, but after controversy spread, the charge was reduced to 'insubordination.' The Ministry of National Defense retrieved the investigation report from the police and has been reexamining it at the Investigation Headquarters, the highest direct investigative agency under the Ministry of National Defense, since the 9th. The Ministry plans to refer the case to the police once the Investigation Headquarters’ reexamination is fully completed.

According to the new Military Court Act implemented in July last year, civilian judicial authorities have investigative authority over criminal charges that caused deaths within the military, and the military must refer such cases to the police 'without delay.'

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