Assembly passes bill on special counsel probe into Air Force sexual assault case

The father, center, of late Air Force Master Sgt. Lee Ye-ram, who killed herself in May 2021 after reporting sexual abuse by a male colleague, weeps as he watches the National Assembly pass a bill calling for an independent counsel investigation into the case, Friday, at the plenary chamber in the Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido. Yonhap

The National Assembly approved a bill Friday calling for an independent investigation into a sexual violence case in the Air Force that led to the suicide of the victim.

Master Sgt. Lee Ye-ram, killed herself in late May 2021 after reporting that she had been sexually abused by a male colleague. The perpetrator was sentenced to nine years in prison in December.

The proposal was passed unanimously by 234 lawmakers attending the plenary session, while the victim's father watched from the public gallery.

The bill calls for a special counsel probe into the sexual abuse case as well as alleged secondary offenses, and suspected cover-up attempts by the Air Force and the defense ministry.

Her death caused public fury and forced the then Air Force chief of staff to resign. A total of 15 suspects were indicted in the case, and 38 people, including the suspects, faced disciplinary measures.

The ministry and the Air Force were criticized for failing to take measures to protect the victim, and for some officials who allegedly attempted to cover up the incident.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition People Power Party sought to pass the bill earlier this month, but they failed due to differences over the process of appointing a special prosecutor. (Yonhap)