The case of former 1st Marine Division commander Lim Sung-geun, who was indicted and detained by the Marine special counsel in connection with the Marine death in the line of duty case, will be handled by the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 22, presided over by Judge Cho Hyeong-woo.
On the 11th, the Seoul Central District Court assigned the case against the former division commander on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and injury and violation of the Military Criminal Act.
Four others who were indicted without detention on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and injury—the former rapid deployment unit commander overseeing flood recovery in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, former 7th Brigade Commander Park Sang-hyeon; former Artillery 11th Battalion Commander Choi Jin-gyu; former Artillery 7th Battalion Commander Lee Yong-min; and the headquarters company commander of the Artillery 7th Battalion, a person surnamed Jang—will be tried together with the former division commander.
The former division commander, who was the superior unit commander of Corporal Chae, who died in the line of duty at the Yecheon County flood site on July 19, 2023, was indicted on the 10th on charges of neglecting the duty of safety care by having personnel conduct underwater searches in waist-deep water without providing safety gear such as life jackets.
The former division commander was also charged with violating a fragmentary order that transferred operational control to the Army at the time. The special counsel said the former division commander violated the order by effectively exercising operational control through on-site guidance, directing search methods, and exercising personnel appointment authority.
Criminal Agreement Division 22 is the panel that handled the first trial of private businessmen related to the allegations of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development corruption case. On the 31st of last month, this panel sentenced to prison and took into custody in court all five—Kim Man-bae, a major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management; former Seongnam Development Corporation Planning Director General Yoo Dong-gyu; attorney Nam Uk; accountant Jung Young-hak; and attorney Jung Min-yong.