Today, the Seventh Trial of Former Marine Corps Investigation Unit Chief Park Jeong-hoon

Adoption of Witnesses Including Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop

The seventh trial of former Marine Corps Investigation Unit Commander (Colonel) Park Jeong-hoon will be held on the 3rd.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The military court plans to hold the 7th hearing at 10 a.m. that day to conduct witness examinations regarding Colonel Park's charges of defamation against a superior officer and insubordination. Former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop and former military aide to Minister of National Defense Park Jin-hee (currently the commander of the 56th Infantry Division, Brigadier General) have been selected as witnesses for the trial.

Former Minister Lee approved (signed) the investigation report by the Marine Corps Investigation Unit on the Marine who died during the search for victims of the heavy rain disaster on July 30 last year, but he instructed to withhold the transfer to the police the following day. However, Colonel Park's side handed over the related documents to the Gyeongbuk Police Agency, the competent police authority, on August 2. Colonel Park's side is expected to question former Minister Lee about specific instructions from July 30, when the Marine's death incident occurred, until August 9, when the investigation records were transferred to the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters.

Colonel Park's side argues that the instruction to withhold the transfer was unjust and claims that President Yoon Seok-yeol was involved in the instruction process. Accordingly, Colonel Park's defense attorney reportedly requested a fact inquiry targeting President Yoon, Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan, the head of the Marine Corps Counterintelligence Unit, and the Public Relations and Information Office Chief.

The fact inquiry requested by Colonel Park's side includes questions about the truth of the so-called "VIP rage rumor." This is to prove the claim that former Minister Lee's instruction to withhold the transfer was due to the president's anger.

The court is expected to decide whether to accept the fact inquiry request on that day. If the court accepts it and the subjects respond, it is anticipated that a written investigation of President Yoon will effectively take place.