Military Prosecutors Indict Former Marine Corps Investigation Unit Chief for 'Disobedience' Without Detention

Military Prosecution: "We Will Do Our Best to Ensure Strict Punishment"

Former Marine Corps Investigation Unit Chief Park Jeong-hoon, who was charged with insubordination and other offenses after transferring the investigation results of the death of Marine Corporal Chae to the police, has been brought to trial.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 6th, the military prosecution indicted Park without detention on charges of insubordination under the Military Criminal Act and defamation of a superior officer. Park was investigated by the military prosecution for allegedly disobeying Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop's order not to transfer but to withhold the investigation results related to Corporal Chae, who died after being swept away by a rapid current while searching for missing persons during heavy rain on July 19.

Park Jung-hoon, Former Commander of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit Photo by Yonhap News

He reported to Minister Lee on July 30 that he would transfer the case to civilian police, specifying charges of negligent homicide against Im Seong-geun, commander of the Marine 1st Division, and eight other related individuals. Minister Lee signed the investigation report at that time but reversed his decision the next day, ordering that the investigation results not be transferred to the police.

However, on August 2, Park transferred the investigation results to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency. In response, the Ministry of National Defense prosecution team retrieved the case materials from the police and charged Park with being the ringleader of collective insubordination.

During the investigation, Park’s charges were changed to 'insubordination' and 'defamation of a superior officer' against Minister Lee. The military prosecution alleges that Park held unauthorized press conferences and appeared on broadcasts, during which he made false statements damaging Minister Lee’s reputation.

Park’s defense maintains that there was no explicit order from Minister Lee to withhold the transfer, making the outcome of the trial process highly anticipated.

Earlier, the military prosecution requested an arrest warrant in August, but it was dismissed. The prosecution team stated, "This is a serious illegal act that undermines military discipline and lowers morale," and added, "We will do our best to ensure strict punishment through active prosecution going forward."

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