{"id":2202064,"date":"2023-08-23T17:47:17","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T08:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202064"},"modified":"2023-11-20T17:31:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T08:31:00","slug":"how-a-botched-military-probe-risks-eroding-south-korean-national-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/08\/how-a-botched-military-probe-risks-eroding-south-korean-national-security\/","title":{"rendered":"How a botched military probe risks eroding South Korean national security"},"content":{"rendered":"
The tragic <\/span>death<\/span><\/a> of a 21-year-old South Korean marine, Corporal Chae Su-geun, during a mission in monsoon floods last month has exposed critical safety concerns and triggered a multifaceted investigation within the ROK armed forces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This incident has raised questions about the adequacy of safety measures, the scope of accountability and the potential repercussions for troop morale and readiness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It has also underlined how the ROK military is still navigating broader legal reforms introduced during the Moon administration, which have redefined the roles of military leaders and expanded the purview of civilian courts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The challenge for South Korea is to shore up trust in the armed forces among a public that seeks greater accountability, but the debate over Corporal Chae\u2019s case shows that the issue has already become politicized, which could shape the trajectory of the military and even create national security risks.<\/span><\/p>\n THE INVESTIGATION<\/b><\/p>\n While on a mission to locate and rescue individuals missing in last month\u2019s monsoon floods, Chae was swept away by strong currents, and his body was discovered the following morning.<\/span><\/p>\n Alarming <\/span>details<\/span><\/a> emerged, revealing that neither Chae nor his fellow marines were equipped with life vests during their mission \u2014 a crucial safety precaution. Instead, the team employed a risky and unorthodox approach of holding hands. Unfortunately,a sudden dip in the river disrupted this formation, leading to Chae\u2019s demise.<\/span><\/p>\n Colonel Park Jung-hun, the ROK Marine Corps provost marshal, took charge of the <\/span>preliminary investigation<\/span><\/a>. Following his inquiry, he briefed the marine\u2019s leadership, defense minister Lee Jong-sup and Chae\u2019s grieving parents on his findings. Based on his assessment, Park recommended charges of negligence against the commanders of the company, battalion, brigade and division.<\/span><\/p>\n Legislation<\/span><\/a> pertaining to fatalities within the ROK military stipulates that if there\u2019s a suspicion of a crime, it falls under the jurisdiction of a civilian court. Further, an <\/span>amendment<\/span><\/a> passed during former President Moon Jae-in\u2019s administration stipulates that if a civilian court recognizes that a crime has been committed, the case should be transferred to the prosecution or the police.<\/span><\/p>\n However, although the defense minister had initially approved the probe\u2019s findings, he later issued an order to put off the transfer to the police, citing the need for further review. Park\u2019s lawyers maintained that he received these new orders to hold off on sending the case to the police only after he had begun the transfer process, and they <\/span>alleged<\/span><\/a> that the ministry pressured Park to omit any allegations of criminal negligence by the commanders he charged.<\/span><\/p>\n In response, the defense ministry retrieved the report from the police to be reviewed by the Criminal Investigation Command, charged Park with insubordination and formally relieved him of his duties.<\/span><\/p>\n In a bold move, Colonel Park appeared on national television donning his Marine Corps uniform, defiantly accusing the defense ministry of undue interference and affirming his commitment to justice.<\/span><\/p>\n