Air Force NCO Husband: "My Wife Is Proud to Be a Soldier... She Wanted to Keep Working"

"Concerned about harming colleagues by reporting"
"Current system fails to prevent sexual violence in the military"

The portrait of Air Force Staff Sergeant Lee, who took her own life after reporting sexual assault, is placed in the funeral hall of the Armed Forces Capital Hospital located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Mr. A, the husband of Sergeant Lee Mo, the victim of the Air Force sexual harassment death case, spoke to the media for the first time about his feelings. Mr. A said about the deceased, who took extreme measures amid the Air Force's passive response after reporting sexual harassment, "She wanted to continue working as a soldier, not just as a female soldier."

In an interview with Kyunghyang Newspaper on the 24th, Mr. A said, "(Sergeant Lee) valued honor above all and was proud of herself as a soldier. She had pride in her specialty (radar maintenance)," he said.

Sergeant Lee, who was serving in the Air Force's 20th Fighter Wing, was sexually harassed by Senior Sergeant Jang Mo in a car while returning to the dormitory after attending an off-base gathering in March. Sergeant Lee reported this to her unit, but it is known that there were attempts by superiors to persuade and pressure her to cover up the incident. Later, Sergeant Lee was transferred to the Air Force's 15th Special Mission Wing, but it is reported that she suffered mental distress as news of the sexual harassment and her report spread to the new unit as well.

Sergeant Lee was ultimately found dead in the dormitory on the 22nd of last month, just four days after her transfer. Mr. A, who was working in another department of the 20th Fighter Wing, returned to the dormitory after night duty and discovered Sergeant Lee's body, then reported it to the police. The day of the incident was also 'Couple's Day,' the day Sergeant Lee and Mr. A registered their marriage.

Mr. A said, "On the 21st of last month, Sergeant Lee took a half-day leave to register their marriage, but a superior scolded her without reason, saying 'Report properly.' Sergeant Lee left the place in tears and for the first time expressed a desire to take a leave of absence."

Regarding the background of Sergeant Lee's extreme choice, he said, "Even after the sexual harassment incident, she hesitated to report it, worrying that the military organization, her superiors, and colleagues might be harmed. She cared for them until the end but was only hurt by the persuasion of superiors she usually trusted," and he guessed that depression caused by forced molestation and anxiety from secondary victimization acted in combination.

Master Sergeant Jang, accused of sexually harassing an Air Force female non-commissioned officer who committed suicide, was escorted to the Military Court of the Ministry of National Defense on the 2nd for a detention warrant hearing. Photo by Yonhap News

Mr. A also cautiously speculated on why Sergeant Lee recorded her last moments. He said, "I think she wanted the perpetrators to see the pain she went through. Since she was found in my dormitory, I also think it was her last consideration for me, worried that misunderstandings or harm might arise toward her husband."

Mr. A then commented on the Ministry of National Defense prosecution team's investigation, saying, "There seems to be a tendency to focus only on forced molestation. A broad investigation is needed to clarify exactly what happened not only in the 20th Fighter Wing where the sexual harassment occurred but also within the 15th Special Mission Wing." He added, "(Beyond the sexual harassment case) the investigation should be expanded comprehensively to include secondary victimization, coercion to settle, failure of the sexual violence victim protection system, and the investigation and reporting systems."

When asked about measures to prevent similar incidents, Mr. A said, "I don't think it can be prevented with the current system." He said, "The military is a place where forced molestation and other acts frequently occur not only among female soldiers but also among the same gender. Instead of penalizing units where sexual harassment occurs, commanders who properly operate victim protection systems should be rewarded. Only then can only the perpetrators be penalized, and an environment where secondary victimization is impossible can be created."

Mr. A also revealed the reason for agreeing to the interview was "to restore (Sergeant Lee's) honor," emphasizing, "Until Sergeant Lee's death, manuals and principles never worked properly, and no one tried to correct the wrongdoing. I will pursue all possible measures until the truth is revealed through an investigation without sanctuary."