SEOUL: The commander of the Marine Corps, Lt. Gen. Kim Kye-hwan, was summoned for questioning by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on Saturday, amid allegations of influence-peddling linked to the investigation of a Marine's death last year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the questioning focuses on Kim’s alleged role in manipulating the military prosecution's inquiry into the death of Marine Chae Su-geun, who died during a mission related to last summer's heavy downpours. Former top Marine investigator Col. Park Jung-hun, who led the preliminary probe, has accused Kim of ordering a reduction in the scope of the investigation under pressure from higher officials. The CIO's ongoing investigation has indicated discrepancies in the handling of the case, with plans to further question former defense officials, including ex-Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and former Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul.