Two marine commanders disciplined after deaths

The Marine Corps said yesterday it will relieve one regimental and one battalion commander of their duties, holding them responsible for the fatal shooting rampage by their marine last week.

Col. Min, chief of the 8th Regiment, and Lt. Col. Han, chief of the 1st Battalion, both of the 2nd Marine Division, will be stripped from their posts Tuesday and today, respectively, Marine officials said.

They said other commanders and marines, if found responsible for the incident, could also be punished.

A 19-year-old corporal, identified only by the surname Kim, fatally shot four fellow marines and wounded one at his barracks at a 2nd Marine Division base on Ganghwa Island on July 4, using a K-2 rifle and live rounds he stole from military storage.

Kim on Saturday was charged with murder, attempted murder and theft of military equipment. He is under military custody.

Kim, who tried to commit suicide after the rampage with a hand grenade he stole, later said bullying by his colleagues was the reason for the shooting. Kim was injured in the grenade blast. A Marine official said an intensive interrogation of Cpl. Kim would start as early as today.

Military officials said three or four marines at the same unit as Cpl. Kim are under investigation for bullying him.

By Moon Gwang-lip [joe@joongang.co.kr]

한글 관련 기사 [중앙일보]

해병대 총격사건 … 연·대대장 보직해임

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이에 따라 민 대령은 오는 12일, 한 중령은 11일에 각각 보직해임될 예정이다. 이번 사건의 주범인 김모(19) 상병은 상관살인과 살인, 살인미수, 군용물 절도 등의 혐의로 9일 구속영장이 발부됐다고 해병대는 밝혔다. 또 해병대 관계자는 “해군 중앙수사단이 해당 초소 병사들을 상대로 조사한 결과 부대 내에서 구타와 왕따 등 가혹행위가 있었던 것을 확인했다”며 “가혹행위에 연루된 병사 3~4명을 집중 조사 중”이라고 말했다.

군 당국은 혐의가 확인되면 곧 이들에 대해 구속영장을 청구할 것으로 알려졌다.