'Demotion from Brigadier General to Colonel' Jeon Ik-su, Air Force Legal Office Chief, Files Appeal Against Disciplinary Action

Request for Suspension of Disciplinary Action Enforcement Together

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Myunghwan] Jeon Iksoo, former Air Force Legal Office Chief (52), who was demoted from Brigadier General to Colonel?the first such demotion since the launch of the civilian government?amid criticism for his responsibility in the inadequate investigation of the late Air Force Sergeant Lee Yeram case, has filed a lawsuit requesting the cancellation of his disciplinary action.

According to the legal community on the 29th, Jeon filed a lawsuit against the Minister of National Defense at the Seoul Administrative Court the day before, seeking to cancel the disciplinary action. The case will be handled by the Administrative Division 1 (Presiding Judge Kang Donghyuk).

Jeon also applied for a provisional injunction to temporarily suspend the effect of the disciplinary action. If the court accepts this, the effect of the demotion will be temporarily halted until the final verdict of the main case is issued.

Jeon was suspected of being responsible for the inadequate initial investigation during the process in which Sergeant Lee Yeram, who belonged to the Air Force 20th Fighter Wing, was sexually harassed by a senior non-commissioned officer on March 2 of last year and subsequently took her own life on May 21 of the same year.

Even after Sergeant Lee’s death, the military prosecution did not investigate the perpetrator. When controversy arose, a belated investigation was conducted, and 15 individuals were brought to trial; however, the Legal Office leadership, including Jeon, did not indict them citing insufficient evidence. Following public criticism, the special prosecutor team led by Ahn Mi-young, launched this year in September, brought an additional eight related individuals, including Jeon, to trial.

In July of last year, Jeon was indicted on charges of coercion during an interview under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes after he called a military prosecutor to question the arrest warrant for Yang Mo (49), a civilian employee who provided him with case-related information, saying "the warrant is wrong." There has been no evidence uncovered that he directed the non-custodial investigation of the perpetrator.

Based on the special prosecutor’s investigation results, the Ministry of National Defense concluded that Jeon’s investigation leadership was flawed and pursued disciplinary action separately from the trial. The disciplinary measure of demotion by one rank was approved by the Ministry of National Defense on the 18th of this month and ratified by President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 22nd.

Jeon filed an appeal with the Ministry of National Defense on the 28th, claiming the disciplinary action was unjust.