"Fake Marines and Leftist Marines Realized This Time"... Kim Heung-guk Raises Voice Against 'Special Prosecutor'

Kim Heung-guk Attends Rally Opposing Marine Corps Special Prosecutor
"It Hurts My Heart, But How Long Will They Keep Pushing?"

Marine Corps veteran broadcaster Kim Heung-guk attended the 'National Rally Against the Marine Corps Special Prosecutor' and stated, "I learned this time that there are fake Marines and leftist Marines." On the 27th, about 100 Marine Corps reserve organizations and their members held a protest in front of the National Assembly, saying, "Do not use the Marine Corps for politics," opposing the special prosecutor investigation. At the event, about 1,500 Marine Corps reservists from across the country (estimated 800 by police) gathered, holding signs such as 'Oppose the Marine Corps Special Prosecutor' and participated in the rally.

Broadcaster Kim Heung-guk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim also attended and took the stage. He said, "I am a public figure and a celebrity, and I want to take the lead as much as anyone, but the leftist side attacks me every day," adding, "The most heartbreaking thing is that I learned this time that there are fake Marines and leftist Marines in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps." He continued, "The Republic of Korea Marine Corps has lived its life as a military force existing for the country and the people. So how can Marine families live so miserably because of the Corporal Chae incident?"

Kim said, "I am also heartbroken over the deceased junior (Corporal Chae), but how long will this be dragged out like this?" He raised his voice, saying, "Our Marine Corps seniors and juniors are here, and we must not let politicians who mock the Marine Corps and speak recklessly go unchallenged." Then he said, "We must protect the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. I would appreciate it if you could prove that the Marine Corps is alive," before stepping down from the stage.

On the same day, Marine Corps Reserve Brigadier General Kang Shin-gil stated, "Military operations always involve risks and mistakes. Korea is probably the only country that holds hearings and calls for the impeachment of the president by exploiting minor military mistakes." Also, Lee Hee-gyu, former National Assembly member and chairman of the Future Strategy Special Committee of the Korea Constitutional Association, said, "How can we sit still seeing the Marine Corps, which receives infinite trust and love from the people, being ridiculed and insulted by the political world recently?" He voiced opposition to the special prosecutor, saying, "Do not use the Marine Corps for politics any longer amid the imminent security crisis."

Corporal Chae died in the line of duty last July while searching for missing persons at the flood disaster site in Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk Province. Park Jung-hoon, former head of the Marine Corps investigation team who led the initial investigation, tried to forward the investigation results to the police, recommending that eight people including Im Seong-geun, then commander of the 1st Marine Division, be charged with professional negligence resulting in death. However, he was ordered to withhold this by superiors, and during this process, the Ministry of National Defense prosecuted Colonel Park for insubordination, causing controversy.

In response, the Democratic Party of Korea is pushing for a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of investigation interference separately from the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit and police investigations. Park Chan-dae, acting party leader and floor leader, emphasized on the day that the Marine Corps special prosecutor law "must be passed during the June extraordinary session."