Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
After mine blast, sexual harassment hits Army division
By Jun Ji-hye
The Army’s 1st Infantry Division, dealing with the aftermath of a land mine explosion masterminded by North Korea, is embroiled in a suspected case of sexual harassment by a male superior against a female junior.
The allegation comes amid mounting criticism over the division, which failed to detect North Korean soldiers who planted land mines after sneaking across the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The mines exploded in the South-controlled area of the Demilitarized Zone on Aug. 4, seriously wounding two South Korean officers who were on a regular patrol.
According to Army officials Friday, a male lieutenant colonel allegedly touched the thighs of a female first lieutenant at a small restaurant near the unit while drinking there on July 31. In asking her to go with him to karaoke, he also allegedly told her that if she slept with him, he could help her serve in the Army for a long time.
“The lieutenant colonel met the first lieutenant by chance at the restaurant,” an Army official told reporters on condition of anonymity. “Another officer who witnessed the scene made a report to the unit.”
The Army is planning to transfer the lieutenant colonel to a disciplinary committee early next week.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the North is believed to have placed the mines between July 26 and Aug. 1.
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