[Comprehensive] Colonel Park Jeong-hoon Acquitted in First Trial on Charges of Insurrection and Defamation of Superior Officers' Honor

Former Marine Corps Investigation Unit Commander Park Jeong-hoon (Colonel), who was indicted on charges of insubordination and defamation of a superior officer in connection with the initial investigation of the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae, was acquitted. The Central Regional Military Court delivered this verdict to Colonel Park on the 9th during the first trial sentencing hearing. This trial result is expected to have repercussions on the truth-finding efforts related to the alleged 'investigation interference.'

Yonhap News

On July 30, 2022, Colonel Park reported the investigation results of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit in person to former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop. Former Minister Lee approved (signed) the report but then instructed former Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan to withhold the transfer to the police. Former Commander Kim also stated that he conveyed this instruction to Colonel Park; however, on August 2, Colonel Park handed over the relevant documents to the Gyeongbuk Police Agency, the competent police authority. The trial of Colonel Park, which began on December 7, 2023, involved a total of 10 hearings until the final arguments on November 21 last year, with key figures related to the case, including former Minister Lee and former Commander Kim, appearing as witnesses.

In the final defense arguments, Colonel Park’s legal team claimed, "There was illegal external pressure, Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan did not issue the order to withhold the transfer, and even if such an order existed, it was due to external pressure and cannot be considered a legitimate order," arguing that "an acquittal should be delivered." In response, Colonel Park stated, "I had no intention, purpose, or will to defame the minister’s honor."

Regarding this, the court stated, "We did not make a separate judgment on whether the order to withhold the transfer of records was a legitimate order," and added, "Based solely on the evidence submitted by the military prosecutor, it is difficult to conclude that the commander gave a specific and individual order to the defendant to withhold the transfer of records beyond meetings or discussions."

The court also noted that during media interviews, Colonel Park responded to various questions using value-neutral expressions, explaining, "Based solely on the evidence submitted by the military prosecutor, it is insufficient to conclude that there was intent to defame."

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