"Is the Military a Group That Covers Up Sexual Violence? Citizens' Anger Over the Death of a Navy Female Sergeant"

A cargo truck carrying wreaths is entering the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, where the funeral hall for the female Navy sergeant, who was found dead after reporting sexual harassment by a superior, has been set up. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Even before the aftermath of the Air Force female sergeant sexual harassment death case in May has subsided, criticism from citizens toward the military authorities is intensifying as a female sergeant in the Navy who suffered sexual harassment also died.

Criticism is mounting that the military's response to sexual violence has not changed even after the Air Force female sergeant sexual harassment death case, as Defense Minister Seo Wook only received the first report of the Navy female sergeant's sexual harassment victim the day before her death. Civic groups are calling for the dismissal of Minister Seo and an apology from President Moon Jae-in.

The Korea Youth Policy Alliance stated in a press release on the 14th, "The recent Navy female sergeant case, which occurred less than three months after the Air Force female sergeant suffered sexual harassment and died in May, clearly shows how lax military discipline has become, representing a serious crime," and criticized, "Despite ongoing sexual crimes in the military, the military's measures have not changed at all."

They continued, "It is heartbreaking to tell our young people to protect the country in such a military," and "We express deep anger at the absurdly lax military discipline and repeated sexual crimes. We strongly demand the dismissal of the Minister of National Defense and a public apology from the President."

The Korean Women’s Political Network also issued a statement saying, "The consecutive sexual violence in the military and the deaths of victims make us doubt whether the Republic of Korea military is a group that easily commits sexual violence and covers for each other," and criticized, "Will security be maintained under such military conditions led by Minister Seo Wook, who repeatedly apologizes due to a military that does not listen to the commander-in-chief?"

They added, "This is evidence of the loss of command ability of the Minister of National Defense and the commander-in-chief," emphasizing, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family must directly intervene in the military’s sexual violence culture and incidents, which have claimed two female sergeants in three months, and take the lead in creating an environment where women can serve as soldiers without dying from sexual violence."

Minister of National Defense Seo Wook. / Photo by Yonhap News

Navy Sergeant A, who was serving at a remote island unit in Incheon, was sexually harassed by Staff Sergeant B at a civilian restaurant on May 27. Sergeant A initially reported the incident only to one superior, the chief sergeant, but changed her mind and filed an official report on the 9th of this month, about two months later.

Until then, Sergeant A and Staff Sergeant B continued to serve in the same unit without being separated. After the case was officially filed, Sergeant A was dispatched to a land unit but ultimately died on the 12th.

Regarding the failure to proceed with the reporting process immediately after the sexual harassment incident, the Navy explained that "Sergeant A did not want the matter to be disclosed externally." However, there are criticisms that even if the victim did not want to disclose it externally, at least separation from the perpetrator should have been implemented.

It was confirmed that Minister Seo only received the first report the day before Sergeant A’s death, 77 days after the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, the Navy Ordinary Military Court conducted a warrant review for the perpetrator Staff Sergeant B on the 14th and issued an arrest warrant on charges of forced sexual assault against a military personnel.