According to a comprehensive report by Aju Economy's investigative team on the 29th, the Capital Defense Command confirmed substantial evidence supporting the workplace harassment allegations against Major A after approximately two weeks of investigation. Additionally, it was reported that Major A was found to have insulted not only subordinates but also superiors. However, Major A reportedly denied the allegations during the investigation, claiming, "I do not remember."
Major A is accused of abusing her position as a department head to issue inappropriate directives to subordinate officers, including Captain C and Major B, who were approaching promotion. She allegedly used her authority over performance evaluations to exert pressure regarding personnel decisions and promotions.
Specifically, Major A is accused of assigning Captain C, who was in the early stages of pregnancy, tasks unrelated to her duties, such as document handling, with the intent of forcing her to arrive at work earlier than the designated time. Captain C reportedly had to climb six flights of stairs to perform these tasks for about five weeks.
As Captain C expressed her concerns about the workload and requested maternity protection time after revealing her pregnancy, Major A allegedly made threatening remarks, including, "Is it okay for me to flaunt my power over you?" and "Get down on the floor!" Current regulations stipulate that pregnant female soldiers are entitled to maternity protection time for rest or medical appointments. Despite this, Major A's actions were in direct violation of these regulations.
Due to the oppressive atmosphere created by Major A, Captain C was unable to fully utilize her guaranteed maternity protection rights. Ultimately, Captain C experienced repeated bleeding and suffered a miscarriage at ten weeks of pregnancy amid ongoing workplace harassment.
After becoming aware of the situation, the Capital Defense Command conducted an investigation and reportedly secured substantial evidence supporting the allegations against Major A. With the legal review now underway, interest in the potential disciplinary actions against Major A is growing.
On the 18th, Aju Economy's investigative team consulted five legal experts, including former military judges and attorneys specializing in military human rights issues, to discuss the legal implications of the case. All experts predicted that Major A would likely face severe penalties.
Experts noted that the military criminal law could apply to acts of cruelty, coercion, threats, and abuse of authority. They emphasized that if a superior repeatedly demanded that a pregnant subordinate officer perform tasks and arrive at work in violation of regulations, it could be considered an abuse of power beyond mere command and supervision.
Additionally, the fact that there were multiple victims was cited as a reason for potential severe penalties. Byung-gyeong Shin, a representative attorney at Ilro Law Firm and a former military prosecutor, stated, "If there are multiple misconducts, including verbal abuse and abuse of authority, and if these occurred repeatedly over a significant period, it could lead to penalties beyond simple suspension or demotion, possibly resulting in a reduction in rank or more severe disciplinary action."
While proving a direct causal relationship between Major A's misconduct and Captain C's miscarriage may be challenging, experts believe the seriousness of the incident and the level of punishment will be considered in the evaluation.
Song Seung-hwan, a representative attorney at Soluzhen Law Firm and a graduate of the Naval Academy, noted, "Even if a miscarriage occurs due to the perpetrator's cruel actions, proving the causal relationship in court may be practically difficult. However, the outcome of the miscarriage could be factored into the severity of the perpetrator's punishment."
Moreover, there are discussions about the possibility of personnel actions, such as reassignment, occurring alongside the disciplinary process. Depending on the severity of the case and the specific facts, criminal proceedings may also be anticipated.
Some have pointed out that this incident highlights issues beyond individual misconduct, revealing problems within the military's personnel and promotion structure and its closed organizational culture. On the 19th, Aju Economy's investigative team interviewed Captain Kim Sang-ho, a former Army officer and popular YouTuber with 400,000 subscribers, to discuss the realities of military organizational culture. Captain Kim has consistently pointed out structural issues within the military.
He stated, "In an officer organization with mandatory retirement ages, failing to be promoted on time can deprive individuals of pension opportunities, creating a significant risk of having to leave the service without proper retirement benefits." He identified this as a core issue related to the incident, noting that the influence of superiors on performance evaluations significantly impacts officers' military careers and lives, making it difficult to challenge inappropriate directives and harassment, thus perpetuating corruption.
The organizational culture, where colleagues are reluctant to speak out due to fear of repercussions, was also highlighted as an area needing improvement. Even if commanders or mid-level managers recognize issues early on, a culture of minimizing or concealing problems due to concerns about organizational reputation and personnel responsibilities makes it structurally challenging to protect victims and prevent recurrence.
In fact, Aju Economy's investigative team has been receiving reports about Major A since the 16th and has contacted over ten victims and witnesses, but many have refrained from providing specific testimonies due to fears of personnel repercussions, opting for silence or indifference.
Meanwhile, a military official stated, "Follow-up procedures based on the results of the investigation are underway according to relevant regulations, and final actions will be determined after additional legal reviews." The official added, "The conclusion of the investigation and the initiation of follow-up procedures do not confirm that all allegations are true," emphasizing that the military is comprehensively reviewing the facts and necessary actions according to relevant regulations and procedures.
Aju Economy's investigative team plans to continue monitoring the disciplinary outcomes for Major A, as well as the military's follow-up actions and whether adequate protective measures for the victims are implemented.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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