Seoul: A Seoul court has sentenced a former Marine commander to three years in prison over the death of a young Marine during a search mission for victims of heavy rains in 2023. The Seoul Central District Court ruled against Lim Seong-geun, a retired two-star general and former commander of the 1st Marine Division, for failing to uphold safety obligations during the operation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the special counsel team had initially sought a five-year sentence for Lim. They accused him of negligently causing the Marine's death by ordering the search operation in Yecheon, located approximately 160 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in July 2023 without providing necessary life vests and other safety equipment.

The incident resulted in the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was part of the operation and was swept away in a swollen stream.