[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Female Sergeant Endured 'Persuasion by Superiors'

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A female Air Force non-commissioned officer (NCO) in her 20s reportedly suffered not only sexual harassment from the perpetrator but also meetings and pressure from her superiors in the unit. Inside and outside the military, there are criticisms that the mental anguish caused by this, rather than the sexual harassment itself, ultimately drove Sergeant Lee to death.

According to multiple sources on the 3rd, Sergeant Lee, who was serving at the Air Force 20th Fighter Wing located in Seosan, Chungnam, was ordered by her senior, Sergeant A, on March 2 to attend an evening gathering. Sergeant A reportedly demanded that she "attend even if you have to change your night shift." Despite a ban on drinking and gatherings due to a cluster of COVID-19 cases, Sergeant Lee had no choice but to be dragged into the gathering.

After the drinking party ended, Sergeant A forcibly touched Sergeant Lee's body parts in the back seat of the vehicle returning to the dormitory. The vehicle was reportedly driven by a junior NCO at the time. Sergeant Lee then jumped out of the vehicle and informed another superior about the sexual harassment. The next day, March 3, she reported the sexual harassment to the military and submitted a petition leave from March 4 to May 2.

Later, Sergeant Lee requested a transfer within the unit, but only received coaxing from her superiors. According to the bereaved family, Mr. B, who arranged the gathering, heard about Sergeant A's harassment but urged Sergeant Lee to settle the matter with Sergeant A by saying, "Can't we just pretend it never happened?" Sergeant Lee's direct superior, Warrant Officer C, also called her out the day after the sexual harassment incident and tried to coax her by saying, "It's something you might experience once in your life."

In particular, the bereaved family explained that even Sergeant Lee's fianc?, who was also a soldier, was contacted and urged to "talk to Sergeant Lee well and resolve this amicably."

After finishing her petition leave on May 3, Sergeant Lee was ordered to transfer to the 15th Special Mission Wing in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on May 14, but she had to endure a difficult time from her first day at work. On her first day, the 18th of last month, she had to work night duty alone and was even asked by the unit commander to write down what she did during her leave. Sergeant Lee registered her marriage on the morning of the 21st of last month, but tragically took her own life that afternoon.

In response, the military authorities promised a thorough investigation and fact-finding not only into the circumstances of Sergeant Lee's death but also into Sergeant A's forced sexual harassment charges and whether there was secondary harm such as coaxing and pressure from the unit superiors.