Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Special counsel wraps up 150-day probe into death of Marine
Special Counsel Lee Myung-hyun presents the final report of his investigation into alleged interference and a cover-up in the case of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun at the special counsel’s office in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
Special prosecutor says investigation uncovered ‘substantive truth’
A special counsel team investigating alleged interference in the case of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun said Friday it had concluded its 150-day probe, asserting that it had uncovered “substantive truth” behind most of the disputed issues despite what it criticized as repeated and excessive court rejections of its arrest warrant requests.
Chae’s death — he was swept away during a search and rescue mission during the July 2023 floods — swiftly evolved into a national flash point over military justice and political meddling. An initial Marine Corps investigation sought to hold senior commanders accountable for allegedly ordering the operation without proper safety protocols. But the Ministry of National Defense soon took over the case, igniting public fury after it removed the names of top officers from the list of those to be referred to civilian prosecutors — a move widely seen as an attempt to shield military leadership.
The ministry’s intervention fueled accusations of a cover-up and led to the indictment of the Marine officer who conducted the original probe, Col. Park Jeong-hun, on charges of insubordination. The escalating controversy prompted the National Assembly to pursue a special counsel bill authorizing an independent investigation into both Chae’s death and the government’s handling of the case.
Presenting the team’s final report on Friday, Special Counsel Lee Myung-hyun said investigators had confronted significant hurdles, including evidence lost to time and what he described as coordinated efforts by key witnesses to align their accounts. “Although the investigation was far from smooth, we did everything possible to leave no suspicion unexamined,” he said.
Lee criticized the Seoul Central District Court’s warrant division for rejecting nine of the team’s 10 arrest warrant requests, approving only the detention of former Marine Division Cmdr. Im Sung-keun. He said the court’s “excessive dismissals were regrettable,” but added that investigators had nonetheless been able to establish the central facts in most of the major cases.
According to the special counsel, the five-month investigation focused on six core areas, including the circumstances of Chae’s death, allegations that senior officials sought to steer or halt the Marine Corps’ initial inquiry, suspicions that former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup was appointed ambassador to Australia to avoid questioning, and claims of internal obstruction within the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO).
The team conducted roughly 180 raids, questioned more than 300 witnesses and suspects, and carried out over 430 digital forensic analyses.
Lee said the investigation ultimately resulted in indictments against 33 individuals. Among them were 16 key figures linked to alleged interference in the Marine Corps inquiry, including former President Yoon Suk Yeol; five current and former CIO officials, including Director Oh Dong-woon, accused of obstructing internal investigations; and five individuals held responsible for Chae’s death, including former Cmdr. Im. The charges also target two military prosecutors suspected of mishandling parts of the case and former Blackpearl Invest CEO Lee Jong-ho, along with others accused of lobbying authorities to shield Im.
Lee described the alleged pressure exerted by the former president, ex-Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and other senior officials as a “serious abuse of power,” noting that the team’s work would now pivot to ensuring that the prosecutions proceed effectively. “Although the probe has ended, we will make sure the defendants are held accountable for their actions,” he said.
The special counsel also expressed condolences to Chae’s family, acknowledging that the prolonged delay in filing charges had compounded their suffering.
“It is impossible to fathom the pain they endured as accountability was postponed for more than two years,” Lee said. “We hope our investigation provides some measure of comfort.”
He added that the team will now focus on supporting the prosecutions in court.