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An Iraqi was killed when the rifle of a soldier with the Korean Zaytun Division in Irbil, northern Iraq went off, just one day prior to President Roh Moo-hyun's visit to the troops in December, it emerged Wednesday. Neither the Zaytun Division nor the Korean military made public the incident, which was uncovered by the press, but immediately reported it to Cheong Wa Dae.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday on Dec. 7 last year, 22-year-old Corporal Hong was playing with his rifle when it went off, the bullet hitting a 23-year-old Iraqi security guard in the stomach. The victim died four days later. Hong did not know the rifle, which he received from a soldier on a previous patrol, was loaded, the Joint Chiefs said.
Security with the Zaytun Division may usually carry their own rifles. However, this was banned on the day of the accident due to the impending presidential visit, and Hong was fooling around with the rifle of another soldier who had returned from patrol.
"Because of presidential security, the whole division was extremely busy. We didn't intentionally hide the incident,Ħħ a Joint Chiefs official said.
The Zaytun Division paid the family of the killed man US$10,000 and a monthly pension of US$450. It also employed the widow as an inspector at the division base's front gate. Hong returned to Korea, where a court martial sentenced him to a year and six month in jail. He has appealed.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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