[2023 National Audit] "Is the Investigation That Incompetent?" Criticism Over Suspicion in Chaesangbyeong Case

On the 12th, during the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of the National Police Agency, severe criticism was directed at the police response regarding the investigation into the death of a Marine Corps corporal who died in the line of duty due to inadequate safety measures in a heavy rain damage area. Committee members pointed out that the police handed over the case records, which had been transferred from the Marine Corps investigation team, back to the Ministry of National Defense prosecution team.

Assemblyman Lee Seong-man stated, "Even if the military conducts its own investigation into a soldier's death, the police ultimately conduct the investigation, and the Gyeongbuk Police Agency has also expressed such intent," adding, "If the police received the investigation materials, they should review how to proceed with the investigation based on those materials. I do not understand why they returned them just because the military prosecution requested it."

In response, National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun said, "I understand that shortly after receiving the case records on the day of the incident, we received an official notification from the Ministry of National Defense stating that procedural defects were found and that they would retrieve the records." Assemblyman Lee questioned, "Is it acceptable to return the materials just based on verbal communication without an official document? For a proper investigation, at least a copy of the case records should have been kept for preservation."

Democratic Party Assemblyman Lim Ho-seon also said, "According to the government system, it is confirmed that the case records were legally received," and asked, "Since this matter could potentially be subject to investigation later, did the Commissioner or the Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters instruct the return of these materials to the military prosecution?" Commissioner Yoon replied, "No such instruction was given."