Military Prosecutors Seek Three-Year Sentence for Ex-Marine Investigator Over Alleged Insubordination.

Seoul: Military prosecutors on Thursday demanded a three-year prison term for a former Marine Corps chief investigator, Col. Park Jung-hun, over his alleged insubordination during an internal probe into a conscript's death last year. Park faces accusations of insubordination and defamation following his investigation into the death of a corporal surnamed Chae, who died during a search mission for missing flood victims in July 2023.According to Yonhap News Agency, Park allegedly handed over the internal probe results of Chae's death to civilian police, disobeying orders from then Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and the Marine Corps' chief to wait for further legal deliberations. The case has gained significant attention due to the reported involvement of the presidential office in the retrieval of the probe results from the police.Park has maintained his innocence, claiming that the retrieval of the case was influenced by President Yoon Suk Yeol's dissatisfaction with the inquiry results, which accused milit ary commanders. Initially, Lee approved the probe's findings but later reversed his decision, which has raised questions about the motives behind the move.In his report, Park accused eight military officials of responsibility for Chae's death. However, the defense ministry quickly retrieved the report from the police, leading to Park's dismissal and indictment. Park has also alleged that he was pressured to exclude the commander of the 1st Marine Division from the list of those responsible, a claim that prosecutors have dismissed as false and defamatory.In addition to the military prosecutors' investigation, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials is examining allegations of external pressure on the military investigation. During the court session, Park reiterated his innocence, arguing that his commander did not clearly order him to refrain from transferring the probe results to civilian police and denied any intent to defame.Park's defense team has called for the court martial t o acquit him, citing unclear orders from his superior and claims of illegal influence-peddling. The court martial is expected to deliver its verdict on January 9. The death of the 20-year-old Marine and the subsequent investigation have sparked national outrage, particularly regarding initial findings that Chae and his colleagues were deployed without proper safety equipment.