Gyeryongdae: Military authorities have launched an investigation into sexual assault and abuse allegations involving Marine soldiers at a central headquarters unit in the country's southern region, officials said Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, authorities are looking into allegations that a group of senior Marines serving in a military police battalion of the service support command at the Gyeryongdae compound physically assaulted, verbally abused, and sexually humiliated their subordinates. Officials have reportedly secured statements from the junior soldiers that they were forced to eat wasabi against their will.

A defense ministry official stated that the investigation commenced immediately upon learning of the report. The authorities are conducting interviews led by special counselors who handle sexual harassment cases. "We are taking necessary measures in line with the military's manual for sexual violence cases," the official said. The ministry is committed to taking strict and lawful action to hold those responsible to account and to prevent recurrence based on the results of the probe.

The central Gyeryongdae military compound, located some 130 kilometers south of Seoul, houses the headquarters of the South Korean Army, Navy, and Air Force.