Key facts
- An appellate court upheld a three-year prison sentence for former Marine commander Lim Seong-geun.
- Lim was convicted of occupational negligence resulting in death during a 2023 search mission for heavy rain victims.
- The Seoul High Court maintained the lower court's ruling.
- The court found Lim's orders led to dangerous water operations without safety guidelines or protective equipment.
- An 18-month prison term was upheld for Park Sang-hyun, former head of the 7th Marine Brigade.
An appellate court has upheld a three-year prison sentence for a former Marine commander, Lim Seong-geun, in connection with the death of a Marine during a 2023 search mission. The Seoul High Court maintained the lower court's ruling, convicting Lim of occupational negligence resulting in death.
Lim, a retired two-star general and former head of the 1st Marine Division, was sentenced for his role in the death of 20-year-old Cpl. Chae Su-geun. The incident occurred in July 2023 during an operation to find victims of heavy rain in Yecheon, southeast of Seoul. A special counsel team had initially sought a five-year sentence for Lim.
The appellate court recognized that Lim's orders for aggressive search efforts did not adequately consider the on-site conditions. The court found these orders led to dangerous water operations conducted without proper safety guidelines or protective equipment.
Sentences for other defendants were also upheld. Park Sang-hyun, former head of the 7th Marine Brigade, who oversaw field operations, received an 18-month prison term.
Chae's death led to significant public outcry, fueled by allegations that the administration of then President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to conceal a military investigation into the incident.