Suspended Sentences for Military Officials in Air Force Sergeant's Case

On July 3, 2025, the Supreme Court of South Korea confirmed suspended prison sentences for former Army Captain Kim and former military prosecutor Park, who were implicated in the case of late Air Force Sergeant Lee Ye-ram, who tragically took her own life after suffering sexual harassment. The court sentenced both to one year in prison, suspended for two years, while former Battalion Commander Kim was acquitted of charges related to failing to separate the victim from her harasser.

The case revolves around the events leading to Sergeant Lee's death in May 2021, after she was subjected to sexual assault by her superior, Sergeant Jang. Following her death, the Ministry of National Defense's prosecution office charged 15 individuals connected to the case, and a special investigation team was later formed due to concerns over the military's inadequate handling of the investigation, leading to additional charges against eight more individuals in 2022.

Former Captain Kim was charged with defaming Sergeant Lee by telling the incoming commander of the 15th Special Mission Wing that she would file a complaint over any minor remarks made about her. Initially sentenced to one year in prison, the appellate court reduced his sentence to a suspended term, stating that he did not actively spread false information and seemed unaware of the potential consequences of his comments.

Former military prosecutor Park was accused of postponing the victim's interview for personal convenience and falsely reporting to superiors that the delay was at Sergeant Lee's request. He also received a suspended sentence, with the court noting that his actions were not directly responsible for Sergeant Lee's death and that he showed genuine remorse.

Former Battalion Commander Kim faced charges for failing to implement measures to prevent secondary victimization after the sexual assault incident, including not separating Sergeant Lee from her assailant. He was acquitted in both trials, with the court concluding that while there may have been shortcomings, there was no evidence of willful neglect.

The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court's decisions, stating that there were no violations of logical reasoning or misinterpretations of the law in the original judgments.