South Korean military officer suspended for leaving base 64 times without permission to feed pet lizard

South Korean military officer suspended for leaving base 64 times without permission to feed pet lizard

October 19

A South Korean army officer who left his assigned base multiple times without notifying superior officers, citing the need to feed his pet lizard, has been suspended from duty for two months, and lost his court bid to have the order overturned.

The Busan District Court in South Korea dismissed the officer's appeal on October 15.

According to gate logs at the base, the officer was found to have left the compound without permission, driving out during office working hours, as many as 64 times over a 10-month period.

The base guard commander's statement also noted that the officer frequently went out, offering excuses such as "I need to go feed my lizard" and "I need to go wash my car."

In addition, between October 2023 and November 2024, the officer allegedly deliberately delayed without approval nearly 700 leave requests submitted by 26 subordinate soldiers.

According to findings at the trial, the officer spoke rudely to soldiers who came to request leave approval signatures, and once mocked and insulted a soldier who asked to be transferred to another post because of back pain, telling him to leave the military on grounds of mental health problems.

In its comments on the case, the Busan District Court said the officer's actions amounted to a serious disciplinary violation that could warrant the penalty of full discharge from the military along with a reduction in pension benefits (pamyeon).

The court's final ruling said the two-month suspension currently imposed is far lighter than the maximum penalty permitted under South Korean military regulations, and that the importance of maintaining discipline within the military and protecting the public interest outweighs the personal hardship of the plaintiff officer, which is why the lawsuit was dismissed.

Ref & Photo: The Independent

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