Marine Corps Investigation Unit Chief Investigation Review Committee First Meeting on the 25th

Judicial Research and Training Institute, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and National Police Agency Refuse Review

The Military Prosecutor's Investigation Review Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Investigation Review Committee), which will address the controversy over the 'insubordination' of former Marine Corps Investigation Unit Commander (Colonel) Park Jeong-hoon, who investigated the 'late Chae Sang-byeong's line-of-duty death case,' will be launched on the 25th. The Military Prosecutor's Investigation Review Committee is an organization under the Ministry of National Defense Prosecutor's Office established to enhance the fairness of investigations related to military incidents that have raised public suspicion or attracted social attention following the death of the late Air Force Sergeant Lee Ye-ram. Former Commander Park requested the convening of the Investigation Review Committee on the 14th, claiming external pressure.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the military on the 23rd, the Investigation Review Committee will hold its first meeting at 10 a.m. on the 25th at the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building. The meeting will include legal representatives of former Commander Park, who were involved in the dispute over whether to transfer the investigation results of the Chae Sang-byeong line-of-duty death case to the police. The Ministry of National Defense plans to disclose the chairperson of the Investigation Review Committee but not the full list of members.

In response, on the 16th, the Ministry of National Defense requested the Human Rights Commission, Judicial Research and Training Institute, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, National Police Agency, and Fire Agency to recommend members. However, the courts and prosecutors declined to participate, citing that it was inappropriate to be involved in military prosecution investigations. The police also conveyed to the Ministry of National Defense that it would be preferable not to participate in the Investigation Review Committee to maintain the objectivity of the investigation, as the Chae Sang-byeong line-of-duty death case is scheduled to be transferred to the police.

Facing difficulties in forming the committee, the Ministry of National Defense sent additional official letters to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and private academic societies to request member recommendations. The committee was formed with about ten members recommended by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Fire Agency, and private academic societies related to public law. The Investigation Review Committee consists of 7 to 20 members and deliberates on whether to continue investigations, prosecute, or request arrest warrants.

Earlier, former Commander Park was booked on charges of insubordination under the Military Criminal Act for not following the Ministry of National Defense's order to withhold and not transfer the investigation results related to Chae Sang-byeong, who died during a search for missing persons, to the police.

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