New Air Force chief meets bereaved family of late sexual abuse victim
SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- New Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Park In-ho met Monday with the bereaved family of a late noncommissioned officer who took her own life after suffering from sexual abuse, and promised to reform the barracks culture to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Park took office on Friday to succeed Lee Seong-yong, who stepped down last month to take responsibility over the death of the master sergeant, surnamed Lee.
Lee was found dead in an apparent suicide on May 22, three months after she was groped and suffered other abuse by a colleague of the same rank.
Military investigators are looking into allegations Air Force officials tried to cover up the incident without giving proper support to the victim.
"I once again apologize for the Air Force's failure to protect MSgt. Lee," the general told Lee's parents at a military hospital in Seongnam, south of Seoul, where the body of the victim is laid.
"We will reform the barracks culture and come up with complementary measures to prevent similar cases," he said, vowing efforts to overhaul the Air Force.
During the meeting, Lee's parents demanded counseling records of their daughter to check what measures the Air Force carried out after she first reported the incident to her unit, according to their lawyer, Kim Jeong-hwan.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(Yonhap Interview) Samsung has substantial upside potential on sound fundamentals: chief analyst
-
BTS vows full support for Busan's World Expo bid
-
BTS' Jungkook drops collaborative single with U.S. singer-songwriter
-
BTS member V visits Paris after K-pop boyband suspends group activities
-
Yoon to agree to new partnership with NATO in second half of year
-
(Yonhap Interview) Samsung has substantial upside potential on sound fundamentals: chief analyst
-
(LEAD) On Korean War anniversary, S. Korea vows stern response to N. Korean provocations
-
Samsung expected to announce mass production of 3nm chip next week
-
Yoon to agree to new partnership with NATO in second half of year
-
(3rd LD) S. Korea confirms 1st case of monkeypox infection
-
Son Ye-jin pregnant, expecting first baby with Hyun Bin
-
Yoon arrives in Spain for NATO summit
-
(LEAD) Yoon to agree to new partnership with NATO in second half of year
-
(LEAD) Prosecution suspends ex-President Lee's imprisonment
-
Car of missing Cho family found off southwestern coast