◀ anchor ▶
It was confirmed that an active-duty Marine Corps soldier left the country without permission while on vacation.
It is known that he traveled through Poland to Ukraine, where the war is currently taking place.
The military authorities are focusing on securing the new recruits for the soldier first.
Reporter Hong Eui-pyo reported.
◀ Report ▶
A soldier belonging to the Marine Corps departed for Poland through Incheon International Airport yesterday.
Today was the return day of Mr. A.
When the soldier who was supposed to return disappeared, the military authorities began to find out whereabouts, and it was revealed that he had left the country without permission.
According to the military authorities, it is known that Mr. A crossed the Ukrainian border after entering Poland.
In a call with a domestic media, Mr. A is said to have said, “As a soldier, I could not just stand still as the civilians continued to die.”
As overseas travel was not permitted in advance, this case corresponds to ‘departure from military service’ or desertion.
Active duty military personnel can travel abroad while on vacation if they obtain the commander’s permission, but there is no legal basis to confirm this at the immigration screening stage if they leave the country without permission like Mr. A.
It has not yet been confirmed whether Mr. A enlisted in the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, but our government explained, “I know that Mr. A left to join the Ukrainian foreign army.”
As an active-duty soldier, there is an opinion that both enlisting in the voluntary army and participating in battles may become an international problem.
[성시형/변호사]
“If an active duty soldier deserts and is able to participate in battle by leaving the dangerous area at will according to his will, I don’t think we can overlook the diplomatic aspect.”
It is understood that our authorities have not yet secured a new recruit for Mr.
A military official said, “We are trying to contact A through his family to confirm that he has departed from military service and to voluntarily return to Korea.”
The military police will cooperate with relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to first secure Mr. A’s recruits safely, and then investigate the circumstances of his departure.
This is Eui-pyo Hong from MBC News.
Video Editing: Jinwoo Kim
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