An Army major general has been under investigation after being arrested on charges of sexually molesting his female subordinate, the Army said Friday, the latest in a series of abuse cases that lay bare the lax discipline among service personnel.
The two-star general, whose identity was withheld, is accused of sexually harassing the female non-commissioned officer at his office five times in August and September, according to the Army headquarters. He is in charge of an Army division located in a metropolitan area.
The details of the allegations are unknown.
The female non-commissioned officer reported the incidents of harassment to a counselor at the barracks, which prompted the military police to arrest the general on Thursday without obtaining a warrant.
It is the first time that the active-duty division commander has been arrested under sexual abuse charges.
“The victim has been protected safely, and the Army will do its best to help her overcome her mental harm and to prevent her from experiencing any additional suffering,” the Army said in a statement.
The incident renewed strong public criticism and ire against the military for its mismanagement of a series of brutal cases at the barracks in recent months. Early last month, Lt. Gen. Shin Hyun-don, a three-star general who was in charge of the First Army,
was discharged for being drunk in public while on duty.
In the wake of the latest incident, Defense Minister Han Min-koo held an emergency meeting involving all major commanders on Friday and called for “thorough introspection.”
“The recent cases that revealed the lax discipline seriously hurt the military’s reputation and caused it to lose the public’s trust. Thorough self-reflection is required,” Han said.
Those who violate orders and commit wrongdoing “should face stern punishment regardless of their rank and positions,” he stressed. (Yonhap)
