Former commander denies allegation that Yoon and his administration interfered with military and police investigation into 2023 marine conscript's death
South Korea's anticorruption investigative agency has resumed its probe into allegations that the former South Korean leadership exerted undue influence to shape the outcome of the military's investigation into the death of a young marine in 2023.
Lim Seong-geun, the former commander of the 1st Division of the Marine Corps. to which the deceased marine belonged, appeared before the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Wednesday for questioning. The CIO plans to conduct forensic analysis of his mobile phone.
Lim was accused of death by occupational negligence and abuse of power related to death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who drowned in July 2023 after being ordered to carry out a rescue mission without proper equipment in a hazardous, flooded area. It was reported that Chae’s unit, along with the other marines under Lim’s command, were instructed to wear the division’s signature red athletic uniform instead of life jackets. Despite this apparent disregard for safety precautions, Lim was not implicated in the case.
The North Gyeongsang Provincial Police, who were handed the case from the military, decided not to forward it to prosecutors in July 2024.
Did Yoon and his administration exert influence on investigation?
There has been suspicion that ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol and high-ranking officials of the presidential office and Defense Ministry influenced the military's investigation so that the charges against Lim would be dropped. The CIO attempted to access Lim's phone in August last year, but was unable to do so due to his claim of not remembering the password.
Wednesday marked yet another effort by authorities to access Lim's phone, after the investigation had been put on unofficial hold due to most of the agency's resources being allocated to the insurrection investigation into Yoon himself over his Dec. 3 imposition of martial law on the country. Yoon has been permanently removed as president after a unanimous Constitutional Court ruling earlier this month, and is currently on criminal trial for insurrection.
Lim argued again that there was no external pressure on his investigation, and claimed he still does not remember the password to his phone.
Other high-ranking officials are involved in allegedly interfering in investigation, including then-Marine Corps Commandant Lt. Gen. Kim Kye-hwan and then-Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup. Lee is accused of ordering his commanders to postpone handing over the Lim case to the police despite already signing off on it. Despite the order, the then-head of the Marine Corps investigation team, Col. Park Jeong-hoon, handed the case over.
Park revealed that he was instructed to whitewash the internal probe on Chae's death, which led him to be accused of mutiny and defamation of his superiors by the military. The Central District Military Court acquitted him of these charges in January.
The CIO said that with the recent verdict on Park's case, it has no choice but to resume its probe into the allegations that Yoon and his administration exerted external pressure on the military and police investigation.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
