In July 2023, at the trial related to the death of Corporal Chae Sang-byeong during flood relief efforts in Yecheon County, Gyeongsangbuk-do, former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun was sentenced to three years in prison. The court ruled that former division commander Lim had neglected his duty of care for the safety of his troops and ordered a dangerous underwater search without adhering to safety guidelines. Additionally, other defendants, including former 7th Brigade Commander Park Sang-hyun and former 11th Artillery Battalion Commander Choi Jin-gyu, were also found responsible for failing to fulfill their safety accident prevention obligations. Corporal Chae's mother criticized the sentence as too lenient and expressed her sense of injustice.
