Soldier Swept Away by Rapids with Corporal Chae Rescued, Marine 1st Division Commander Sued

Mr. A, Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps on the 24th
"Sorry I Couldn't Protect Corporal Chae," Reveals His Feelings

In July, during the search for missing persons in the Naeseongcheon River in Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk, a senior soldier filed a complaint with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (HOCI) against Im Seong-geun, commander of the 1st Marine Division, after being discharged. The soldier had been swept away by the water along with Corporal Chae, who later died.

On the 25th, Marine A issued a statement through the Military Human Rights Center, announcing, "I am filing a complaint against Im Seong-geun, commander of the 1st Marine Division, for professional negligence causing injury." A was discharged the day before.

On July 22, at the 'Kim Dae-sik Hall,' the gymnasium of the 1st Marine Division in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, a Marine is shedding tears at the funeral ceremony of the late Corporal Chae Su-geun.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

A explained the reason for the complaint, saying, "As a person involved in the accident and someone who knows the full story well, I could not just let it pass. I will hold accountable those responsible for the unnecessary harm my comrades and I suffered, as well as the irreversible damage to Corporal Chae who passed away."

He continued, "We did not die or get injured during the operation under legitimate orders to protect the lives and property of the people. It was because people like the division commander gave unnecessary and reckless orders to build their own achievements," he asserted.

On July 19, during the search operation for missing persons caused by heavy rain, A was swept away by the water but was rescued. However, Corporal Chae, who was searching alongside him, ultimately died.

A says, "I am suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the accident"

The burial ceremony for the late Corporal Chae Su-geun was held on the afternoon of July 22 at the National Daejeon National Cemetery, where his comrades are seen paying their respects with flowers. Corporal Chae Su-geun passed away after being swept away by a rapid current while searching for a missing person in Naeseongcheon, Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, on the 19th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

A, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the accident, revealed, "I had many nights where it was hard to fall asleep. The image of Corporal Chae, who gradually faded from my sight, kept appearing in my dreams. I still feel sorry for not being able to protect him."

He added, "I know how the unit's atmosphere was during the search for the missing. The division commander was said to be very angry, and the officers seemed to feel pressured. The orders to enter the water and the instructions emphasizing only the uniform and soldier's posture without concern for safety were not really surprising."

He further pointed out, "This was the typical behavior the division commander usually showed in the unit. Everyone knew it was impossible to find the missing person in the water, but since the orders came from above, we had no choice but to go in. Many were already thinking, 'What if an accident happens?' and eventually, the accident occurred."

Earlier, on September 13, A’s mother filed a complaint with HOCI against Commander Im on charges of professional negligence causing injury and abuse of authority.

At that time, A’s mother said, "In the first call after the accident, my son cried and said, ‘Mom, I couldn’t catch ○○ (Corporal Chae).’"

She also added, "I met my son for the first time 16 days after the accident. He came home on leave but couldn’t sleep comfortably even for a day. He woke up sweating, and one day I saw him wake up crying."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters transferred the case to the police in August, citing criminal charges only against two battalion commanders (lieutenant colonels) related to Corporal Chae’s incident. Im, the division commander, the brigade commander, the company commander, and the on-site non-commissioned officer (sergeant), who were suspects in the Marine Corps investigation, were excluded from charges and only factual matters were forwarded to the police.

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