Military Human Rights Center: "Air Force's 'Attempted Sexual Assault' Case Response Inadequate"... Additional Charges Expected

"Immediate Separation of Victim and Perpetrator Not Implemented"

The Center for Military Human Rights recently announced additional charges against the suspect, criticizing the military authorities for not taking proactive measures in relation to an attempted sexual assault incident that occurred at an Air Force wing.

On the 11th, the Center held a press conference at its office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, claiming, "The 17th Wing confirmed the sexual violence victim's report the day after the incident, on the 25th of last month, but immediate separation of the victim and perpetrator did not occur." The perpetrator, former Colonel A, reportedly requested a one-day delay in separation citing "mental trauma," returned to work the next day, and forced subordinates who attended a company dinner to call or come to the office for meetings.

Director Lim Tae-hoon of the Military Human Rights Center holding a press conference. Photo by Yonhap News

The Center stated that A asked his subordinates questions such as, "Did you think the victim was very drunk?" and "Did anyone else ask the victim to come to the second round, and did you receive any contact from the victim?"

The Center plans to file additional charges against A with the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Headquarters for coercion to attend meetings under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The Center also claimed that aside from basic guidance that the 17th Wing provided the victim on how to obtain a complaint form online and submit it to the police, no substantial follow-up measures were taken.

Previously, the Center’s Sexual Violence Counseling Office reported that A attempted sexual assault on female junior officer B before and after a company dinner, and filed charges against A for forced molestation and aggravated rape causing injury against a military personnel with the police.

In response to these claims, the Air Force told Yonhap News Agency, "On the day the incident was reported, personnel were dispatched to separate the parties according to unit management training and related regulations, and measures to prevent secondary damage were immediately implemented."

They added, "The incident was promptly reported to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, who instructed strict handling and utmost efforts to protect the victim." They also explained that after recognizing A’s contact with dinner attendees on the 31st of last month, he was dismissed from his post following procedures. The Air Force is actively cooperating with the police investigation and has separately formed a special inspection team at Air Force Headquarters to investigate additional matters.