"Can't Even Stand at Attention, Invincible Marine?"... Marine Assaults and Threatens Junior with Weapon

Repeatedly assaulted and threatened with a weapon during service
Court: "First offense and shows remorse"

A man in his 20s who was prosecuted for bullying a junior soldier and threatening him with a weapon during his military service in the Marine Corps received a suspended prison sentence.

On the 30th, the 11th Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court (Chief Judge Choi Seok-jin) announced that it would suspend the one-year prison sentence for Mr. A (23), who was charged with special threats, use of force, harsh treatment, and assault against a soldier on duty. A suspended sentence means that for minor crimes, the sentencing is postponed for a certain period, and if two years pass from the date of suspension, the case is effectively considered null and void.

Mr. A was indicted on charges of repeatedly assaulting and threatening his junior soldier Mr. B, who served together in the same living quarters at a unit of the 1st Marine Division in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, from June to November 2020, using weapons such as knives.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Mr. A was indicted on charges of repeatedly assaulting and threatening junior soldier Mr. B with a weapon while serving together in a unit of the 1st Marine Division in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, from June to November 2020. In June 2020, inside the barracks, Mr. A ordered Mr. B to stand at attention and scolded him, saying, "They say you're an invincible Marine, but you can't even stand at attention." When Mr. B apologized, Mr. A reprimanded him further, saying, "Your response is slow, and is that the correct answer?" and struck his abdomen twice.

Later, Mr. A made Mr. B lie down on the bed, then climbed on top and tickled his chest. When Mr. B made sounds because he could not endure the tickling, Mr. A hit his abdomen and chest multiple times. He also took Mr. B’s octagonal hat and, when Mr. B asked for it back, assaulted him in the same manner out of displeasure and bit his arm, thigh, and lower abdomen. In October 2020, while serving as a squad leader, Mr. A threatened Mr. B by holding a weapon to his neck, citing that he was in a bad mood.

The court stated, "The crime of abusing the status and position of a soldier to assault and threaten a junior soldier performing duties with a dangerous object is not light," but also considered "that Mr. A is a first-time offender, showed remorse, and reached a settlement with the victim." The court added, "Mr. A was only 19 years old at the time of the offense and was fulfilling his mandatory military service," and explained the sentencing by saying, "It is unlikely that he will commit the same crime again after returning to society."

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