By Jun Ji-hye
The Marine Corps said Monday it is reinvestigating an assault case in which a Marine attempted to commit suicide after being beaten by his seniors.
“We are again looking into the case where three juniors were allegedly beaten by seniors at the 2nd Division of the Marine Corps,” an official said, Monday.
The Marine Corps dispatched three military policemen to the division to question those involved.
The measure came after a revelation that a Marine, 20, attempted to commit suicide on June 28 by leaping from the third floor of the barracks. He suffered a fracture in his left ankle.
According to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, the
Marine was assigned to the 2nd Division on May 22, and then was beaten with two other colleagues from May 24-28 by three senior soldiers.
He made a report to a civilian advisor who visited the unit, which led to the initial investigation.
After this investigation, the three assailants moved out to other units on June 25, but the 20-year-old, who also wanted to move out, was left in the same unit.
The Marine’s parents claimed their son attempted suicide after suffering additional hazing and verbal attacks by other seniors as he was branded a whistleblower.
Seniors kicked the Marine’s bed for no reason and forced him to salute more than 500 times under the guise of “exercise,” the parents claimed.
The Marine Corps official said the division decided to leave the victim at the same unit as it seemed that it would be difficult for him to adjust to new circumstances in other units as well.
“We have taken extra care, including allowing him to use a mobile phone,” the official said. “The Marine Corps will take strict measures if additional hazing is confirmed through its reinvestigation.”
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