Lim Sung-geun, the former commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division who was put on trial over the death of Marine Corporal Chae Su-geun, has been sentenced to three years in prison in his appeals trial.

The Seoul High Court sentenced the former commander, who faces charges including occupational negligence resulting in death, to three years in prison this morning (August 7), upholding the ruling from the first trial.

The court criticized Lim, stating that his excessive directives and other failures violated his professional duty of care, leading to the death of Corporal Chae during civilian missing-person search operations in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, in July 2023. The court also reprimanded him for failing to fulfill his responsibilities as a commander following the accident.