Special Prosecutor in Corporal Chae Case Withdraws Appeal in Colonel Jeong Hoon Park's Insubordination Trial... Acquittal Finalized

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The special prosecutor team led by Myung Hyun Lee, investigating allegations of external pressure in the investigation of the death of Marine Corporal Chae, has decided to withdraw the appeal in the insubordination case of Jeong Hoon Park, former head of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit (Colonel). Colonel Park, who was indicted by the military prosecution in October 2023, was acquitted after about one year and nine months, and the verdict is now final.

Special Prosecutor Myung Hyun Lee, investigating allegations of obstruction of justice in the case of a fallen Marine, is holding a briefing at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 9th. On the same day, the special prosecutor announced the decision to withdraw the criminal appeal against Jeong Hoon Park, former head of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit (Colonel), who is on trial for insubordination. Yonhap News

On the morning of the 9th, Special Prosecutor Lee held a briefing at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, and announced, "After a comprehensive review of the original judgment, objective evidence, and the legal validity of the military prosecution's reasons for appeal, the special prosecutor has decided to withdraw the appeal against Colonel Jeong Hoon Park."

He continued, "Colonel Park, as head of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit, conducted the initial investigation into Corporal Chae's case and transferred the case records to the police in accordance with the law. We determined that the Ministry of National Defense prosecution's decision to charge Colonel Park as the 'ringleader of collective insubordination' and indict him for insubordination constituted an abuse of prosecutorial power. Given that the first trial court deliberated on this case for over a year and acquitted Colonel Park, we concluded that maintaining the prosecution for insubordination and related charges would not be a responsible course of action for the special prosecutor."

Colonel Jung Hoon Park, former head of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit. Photo by Yongjun Cho

The special prosecutor's team took over Colonel Park's appeal case, which was ongoing at the Seoul High Court, on the 2nd and had maintained the prosecution until now. On the morning of the 9th, the team submitted a notice of withdrawal of appeal to the court. Once the withdrawal is accepted, the legal proceedings will end and Colonel Park's acquittal in the first trial will become final.

Meanwhile, the legal team of former Minister of National Defense Jong Seop Lee, who at the time instructed the Marine Corps to withhold the transfer of the case records, issued a statement saying, "The special prosecutor does not have the authority to take over Colonel Jeong Hoon Park's case from the military prosecution or to withdraw the appeal," and criticized the move as "illegal and an abuse of authority."