◀ Again ▶
MBC obtained a statement detailing division commander Lim Seong-geun’s specific observations upon visiting the scene, explaining why Marine Corps Corporal Chae had to enter the strong current without any safety equipment.
“The on-scene briefing was interrupted and I was told to quickly enter the scene and check the scene, but the division commander only urged the deployment of troops without knowing the situation.”
A company commander who responded to the scene described the situation at the time as follows:
Journalist Deok-young Lee reports.
◀ Report ▶
On July 18 last year, the day before Corporal Chae’s accident, Marines were exploring the bottom of a river that flowed heavily up to their knees.
However, he is not wearing a life jacket, carrying a heavy backpack and carrying a probe.
This backpack is known to have contained combat rations, water, and extra gym clothes.
They were sent on an operation to search the rapids without life jackets, carrying backpacks full of items that appeared unrelated to the search or safety.
Division commander Lim Seong-geun, who inspected the site that day, is said to have ordered the rapid deployment of troops.
A company commander who met with division commander Lim Seong-geun at the time stated that division commander Lim had skipped the site security assessment and urged deployment to the site.
In his witness statement, he said: “As soon as the briefing started, the division commander interrupted me and told me to get to the scene quickly. He said: “I was aware of the safety risks between the access road and work, but the division commander asked, “Why don’t you start work quickly and keep the troops waiting.” He testified: “I asked, ‘Is there one?'”
The company commander, who was being reprimanded by the division commander at the time, addressed the battalion commander via text message, saying, “I wanted to send this after checking the scene, but I’m very upset.”
The battalion commander also said, “I’m confused about what I’m doing now. You guys are even more like this,” he said, “I will recognize you and console you because I am your commander,” and comforted the company commander who was reprimanded while conducting a safety inspection.
At the time, several media outlets covered the search operation.
In the statement, the company commander also said: “I suspected there was a lot of media attention.”
Requests to evacuate the site due to heavy rain were rejected.
[해병대 1사단 7여단장 (음성변조, 2023년 7월 18일)]
″The official withdrawal order is a bit ambiguous. I suggested it several times to the division commander and you knew it from day one.”
When images of soldiers mobilized for the search operation were widely reported in the media, division commander Lim Seong-geun responded: “What a great publicity effort.”
Former division commander Lim Seong-geun revealed that he repeatedly stressed safety measures and guidelines to prevent soldiers from entering the water.
This is Deokyoung Lee from MBC News.
Video editor: Kim Gwan-sun
#interrupted #briefing #scene #quickly
