U.S. Battalion Commander Apologizes Over Subway Harassment

The 2nd U.S. Infantry Division battalion commander visited Uijeongbu City Hall on Monday to apologize to the mayor for the sexual harassment of a woman on the subway by a group of American soldiers.

The incident happened on Saturday evening on the subway bound for Incheon via Uijeongbu Station.

According to Uijeongbu city officials, Eric Walker met Mayor Ahn Byeong-yong and informed the mayor that the U.S. military considers the incident "very serious" and pledged to cooperate with police to ensure that the soldiers are punished.

The soldiers involved had apparently only recently arrived in Korea. On Sunday, the 2nd Infantry Division issued a statement saying it is willing to cooperate in the investigation.

Subway police, which are investigating the incident, said that they interviewed the 21-year-old victim as well as a witness.

They handed over three soldiers who were apprehended at the scene to the U.S. military police in exchange for a written guarantee to investigate them and were given the identities of the other three, who fled.