The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) Questions Marine Corps Public Relations Officer Regarding 'Chae Sang-byeong Allegations'

Check on the Situation at the Time of the Highest Report

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gongsoocheo), which is investigating allegations of external pressure in the investigation of the Marine Corps personnel death incident, has summoned the head of the Marine Corps Public Relations and Psychological Operations Office.

The 4th Investigation Division of Gongsoocheo (Chief Prosecutor Lee Daehwan) summoned Director Lee Yunse on the 10th as a witness for questioning. Director Lee attended the meeting on July 30 last year where former Marine Corps Investigation Unit Chief Park Junghoon first reported the investigation results of Corporal Chae's case to former Minister of National Defense Lee Jongseop. Former Chief Park claimed that at this meeting, former Minister Lee asked, "Should the division commander also be subject to criminal punishment?" and after receiving the Marine Corps Investigation Unit's report specifying eight individuals, including Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Im Seonggeun, as suspects of negligent homicide to be referred to the police, he signed it.

At the trial for former Chief Park's insubordination charge held at the Central Military Court last March, Director Lee also responded regarding whether Marine Corps Commander Kim Gyewhan explicitly instructed former Chief Park to withhold the referral, saying, "As a staff member in uniform, I think he might have been able to understand the commander's intention."

In a prior military prosecution investigation, regarding the cancellation of the media briefing on Corporal Chae's case scheduled for July 31 last year, he testified, "I heard that we were told not to tell reporters that it was canceled under the minister's orders." He also recalled, "I remember the Ministry of National Defense Policy Director saying, 'If the division commander is punished, then if similar incidents occur, should all other division commanders be punished as well?'"

It is known that Gongsoocheo confirmed with Director Lee the specific circumstances at the time of former Chief Park's initial report, as well as the exact intent of his statements made during the trial and investigation.