A Judge Advocate in the Hanbit Unit Sent Home for Drunkenness and Indecent Language: Shameful Conduct of Units Dispatched Overseas Continues

[경향신문]

An image of Hanbit Unit troops. Joint Chiefs of Staff

A series of shameful incidents occurred involving drunk officers, leaders in the military, in units dispatched overseas. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, which manages the units sent overseas, repeatedly announced that it would handle the incidents according to regulations, neglecting to seek a fundamental solution. Meanwhile, problems of military discipline continue to occur overseas.

This time, a drunk judge advocate in the Hanbit Unit caused a disturbance and was deemed unfit for overseas duty and sent home early. The Hanbit Unit was established in 2013 and dispatched to the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Forces in South Sudan.

On February 7, a representative of the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced, “We confirmed that Captain A, a judge advocate in the Hanbit Unit, was drunk, insulted a senior officer, and spoke indecent language to military executives. So we ordered him to return to his unit back home.” He further explained that A would be subject to criminal prosecution.

The representative also said, “Investigators in the inspection department of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Investigation Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense confirmed Captain A’s allegations in the local investigation in Sudan, so further investigation will be conducted.” He continued and said, “We will soon report the issue to Minister of National Defense Suh Wook and take specific disciplinary action against Captain A and those involved in the irregularities.”

A military investigation team also caught three officers who were repeatedly negligent in their duties, such as failing to conduct patrol duty, in a local investigation of the Hanbit Unit. The military will handle the issue according to regulations following further investigation. Reportedly, the company officers who drank with Captain A and the senior officers of a unit under the direct supervision of the defense ministry received disciplinary measures from the unit for violating a drinking regulation, which bans soldiers from drinking more than a certain amount (half a bottle of soju or one can of beer) during unit dinners or parties. Investigators confirmed that Captain A drank, moving from one party to another.

Earlier last month, First Lieutenant B of the Army Special Warfare Command, who was dispatched to Lebanon as part of the 25th Dongmyeong Unit, was drunk and caused a disturbance on his flight back home. B was subject to an investigation for boarding the flight drunk, swearing at the cabin crew and breaking the seat monitor. Last August, three senior officers including the commander of the Dongmyeong Unit were ordered to return home early after drinking late into the night. Last October, a senior officer of the Dongmyeong Unit was also sent home early for verbally and physically assaulting his subordinates.