The special counsel investigating the Marine's line-of-duty death sought a five-year prison term for former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, named as responsible in the death of Corporal Chae. The special counsel said Lim effectively exercised command authority, pushed aggressive searches over safety measures, and as a result failed to prevent the accident.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 22 (Presiding Judge Cho Hyeong-woo) held a sentencing hearing on the 13th for Lim, indicted on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and injury and violating orders under the Military Criminal Act.
The special counsel said that day, "We ask the court to sentence defendant Lim Seong-geun to five years in prison." For former 1st Marine Division 7th Brigade Commander Park Sang-hyeon, who was also brought to trial, the special counsel sought two years and six months in prison; for former Artillery 11th Battalion Commander Choi Jin-gyu, two years and six months in prison; for former Artillery 7th Battalion Commander Lee Yong-min, one year and six months in prison; and for former Artillery 7th Battalion Headquarters Company Commander Jang, one year in prison, respectively.
Regarding the former division commander, the special counsel called him "the commander with the greatest authority in this case," and said, "He emphasized aggressive searches over safety, singled out the artillery battalions for repeated reprimands, and, even while recognizing the underwater search situation, condoned and left it unchecked." The special counsel added that by violating fragmentary orders from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the Army 2nd Operations Command, he shook the chain of command and created a real risk to troop safety. The special counsel also said, "All officers and enlisted personnel are pointing to the former division commander's unreasonable on-site guidance and search pressure as the core cause of the accident, yet he denies all wrongdoing."
Lim and the others were brought to trial on charges that, during a search operation for flood-missing persons in July 2023 around the Naeseongcheon area of Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang, they deployed troops without safety gear such as life jackets, causing one Marine to die and injuring other members. Lim was also charged with directly commanding on site in violation of a higher unit's order to transfer operational control to the Army 50th Division commander. The special counsel indicted the case with detention in Nov. last year, and with the day's sentencing hearing, the first-instance proceedings entered their final stage about five months after indictment.
The special counsel also deemed the co-defendants not lightly responsible. Former brigade commander Park led on-site command and intensified the search, while former battalion commanders Choi and Lee, in relaying higher orders, effectively pushed for in-water searches. Former Captain Jang likewise effectively ordered underwater searches without sufficiently weighing on-site risks, according to the special counsel.