▲ Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup (R, front row) and Maj. Gen. Im Sung-keun (2nd from R), former commander of the Marine Corps' 1st Division, refuse to take an oath while other witnesses do so during a hearing on the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun at the legislation and judiciary committee of the National Assembly in Seoul on June 20, 2024, for the legislation of a bill to introduce an independent counsel to investigate the case. Chae was swept away by a torrent in a stream during a search operation for civilians missing amid heavy rains in July 2023. (Yonhap)

Marine death-parliamentary hearing

Ex-defense minister refuses to take oath at parliament committee hearing over Marine's death

SEOUL, June 21 (Yonhap) -- Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup refused to take his oath Friday as he was questioned by a parliamentary committee over a military probe into the death of a young Marine.

During a legislation and judiciary committee session held unilaterally by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), former Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul and Lim Seong-geun, former commander of the 1st Division of the Marine Corps, also refused to take the oath of witness.

Opposition lawmakers strongly rebuked the officials, saying their refusal is akin to admitting to their crimes and declaring that they will lie during the session.

The DP has been seeking to pass a special investigation bill over the Marine's death after a similar bill was scrapped during the previous National Assembly.

The bill calls for the special counsel to look into allegations that the presidential office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the Marine's investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.

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