Colonel Park Jung-hoon is innocent of the first trial...Military Court "No clear order"

[Anchor]
Colonel Park Jung-hoon, who was indicted on charges of mutiny in connection with the death of Chae Sang-byung, was acquitted by the first trial military court.

In the process of transferring the investigation records of the Marine Corps investigation team to the civilian police, the issue was whether Colonel Park violated the commander's order to hold the transfer, but the court judged that there was no clear order to hold the transfer.

Reporter Kim Moon-kyung reports.

[Reporter]
The Central District Military Court acquitted Colonel Park Jung-hoon, the former head of the Marine Corps Investigation Division, of charges of mutiny.

Colonel Park was indicted in early August 2023 on charges of not following the orders of then Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan in the process of handing over the investigation records of Chae to private police, which the court did not accept.

The court said that the order should be individual and specific, and at that time, Commander Kim appeared to have mainly held meetings and discussions with his subordinates on the timing and method of transferring records.

He also ruled in favor of Colonel Park, who said he ordered the suspension after 50 minutes, even though Colonel Park reported that he was transferring the investigation records.

The military court's judgment is that it is not a resistance as there was no clear order to hold the transfer.

The military prosecution was acquitted of charges of defaming former Minister Lee Jong-seop, saying that the investigation was not proven and that there was no intention.

[Colonel Park Jung-hoon/Former Marine Corps Investigation Team Leader: I think there was a just trial result only because of the support, support, and support from the people]

However, the court did not judge the alleged external pressure of the investigation, such as the so-called VIP outrage.

It rejected the claims of Colonel Park Jung-hoon, who pleaded not guilty by citing allegations of external pressure, and the related investigation is currently being conducted separately by the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit.

The ministry said it respected the military court's ruling, while military prosecutors said they were considering whether to appeal without a separate position.

I'm Kim Moon-kyung of YTN.

Photographer: Woo Young-taek
Video editing: Ma Young-hoo
Sidewalk Design: Lee Won-hee