Im Seonggeun, Former Division Commander, Faces First Trial on Chae Sang-byeong’s Death Next Month

[Financial News] The first trial for Im Seonggeun, former commander of the 1st Marine Division and the main suspect in the Chae Sang-byeong Marine death case, is scheduled for the 4th of next month. This is the first indictment by the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team, led by Lee Myeong-hyeon, and a full-scale legal battle is expected to begin.
According to legal sources on the 17th, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 22 (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo) will hold the first hearing for Im Seonggeun, who was indicted and detained on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and violation of military orders, at 10 a.m. on December 4.
On the same day, four other Marine Corps commanders who were indicted without detention—Park Sang-hyun (then commander of the 2nd Quick Maneuver Division and former commander of the 7th Marine Brigade), Choi Jin-gyu (former commander of the 11th Artillery Battalion), Yongmin Lee (former commander of the 7th Artillery Battalion), and Jang (former headquarters company commander of the 7th Artillery Battalion)—will also stand trial.
Im Seonggeun and the four others are accused of causing the death of Chae Sang-byeong by directing a search operation for missing persons during heavy rains near Bomun Bridge on the Naeseongcheon River in Yecheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do, in July 2023. They allegedly ordered Marine Corps personnel to conduct underwater searches in waist-deep water without life jackets or other safety equipment, resulting in Chae being swept away by strong currents.
They are also charged with causing serious injuries to Sergeant Lee, who was rescued after falling into the water and required more than 30 days of hospitalization and long-term psychiatric treatment.
Additionally, Im Seonggeun is accused of continuing to exercise operational command, issue search instructions, and make personnel decisions, even after the operational control of the 2nd Quick Maneuver Division was transferred to the 50th Infantry Division under orders from the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (ROK JCS).
Previously, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency excluded Im Seonggeun from the list of suspects and referred only Park Sang-hyun and five others to the prosecution in July last year. However, the Special Prosecutor Team reportedly secured additional evidence and circumstances related to occupational negligence resulting in death or injury after interviewing more than 80 people and conducting on-site and unit inspections over four months.
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter