Seoul: A special counsel team on Tuesday sought a warrant to arrest a former Marine commander on charges of negligently causing the death of a young Marine in 2023.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the team, led by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon, requested the warrant against Lim Seong-geun, former commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division, over the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun in July 2023. Chae, a Marine conscript under Lim's unit, died after being swept away in a swollen stream during a search mission for heavy rain victims.

Assistant special counsel Choung Min-young stated that the team filed for Lim's warrant on charges of death by negligence and violating orders under military law, citing concerns of destruction of evidence. Lim is accused of ordering troops to carry out the search operation that led to Chae's death without providing proper safety equipment, such as a life vest.

Lee's team has been investigating allegations that former President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration interfered in the military's probe into Chae's death to clear certain individuals of responsibility, including Lim. Lim was initially listed as a suspect responsible for Chae's death in the probe, but the results were later altered to exclude charges against him.

On Monday, the team filed for warrants to arrest former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and other officials over allegations of interfering in the Marine Corps probe.