Investigation Related to the Late Corporal Chae Incident
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HGOI) has initiated a compulsory investigation into Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan. This is to investigate allegations of external pressure related to the case of the late Marine Corporal Chae, who died in the line of duty while searching for missing persons during last year's heavy rains.
According to military officials on the 18th, the HGOI conducted a search and seizure operation at the Marine Corps Commander's and Deputy Commander's offices at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, the previous day, securing related materials. The HGOI is investigating suspicions that although Marine Corps Investigation Team Leader Park Jeong-hoon and others lawfully transferred the case to the police with charges of negligent homicide against Im Seong-geun, the commander of the 1st Marine Division, the Ministry of National Defense prosecution team illegally retrieved it. The HGOI had also conducted search and seizure operations on the offices and residence of Yoo Jae-eun, the Ministry of National Defense Legal Affairs Officer, and the office of Park Jin-hee, former military aide to the Minister of National Defense, on the 16th and 17th.
Commander Kim Gye-hwan is reported to have been notified to appear as a witness at the second trial of former Investigation Team Leader Park Jeong-hoon, scheduled for the 1st of next month. Former Team Leader Park was indicted on charges including insubordination and defamation of a superior after transferring the investigation report, which indicated negligent homicide charges against former Division Commander Im Seong-geun, to the Gyeongbuk Police Agency on August 2 last year, defying the instruction from then Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop to withhold the transfer.
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