Ex-Marine investigator's lawyer calls for special counsel probe into young Marine's death

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- A lawyer of the Marine Corps' former top investigator called on President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday to accept a special counsel probe into the military's response to a young Marine's death last year.

Kim Jeong-min, who represents Col. Park Jung-hun, made the remark before a court hearing over his client's alleged insubordination over an internal probe he led into Cpl. Chae Su-geun's death last July during a search mission for downpour victims.

Last October, military prosecutors indicted Park for allegedly handing over the probe results to the civilian police despite then Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup's orders to wait for more legal deliberations.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has pushed for a special counsel investigation into allegations that Yoon's office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the military investigation into Chae's death.

"We have always called for a special counsel probe from the start," Kim told reporters before entering a military court in Seoul with Park. "Rejecting the special probe and resolving this problem through the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is ... a delusion."

Last year, the DP filed a complaint against then defense chief Lee over the influence-peddling allegations. The CIO also summoned Marine Corps Commandant Lt. Gen. Kim Kye-hwan for questioning earlier this month.

President Yoon voiced reservations about a new probe during a press conference last week, saying if the ongoing investigation by the police and the CIO is insufficient, he "will be the first to call for a special counsel probe."

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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