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South Korea President Moon Jae-in pays tribute Sunday to the Air Force master sergeant who died by suicide after being sexually assaulted by a fellow service member, at the memorial for the sergeant. (Yonhap News)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in apologized Sunday to the family of an Air Force master sergeant who died in an apparent suicide after being sexually assaulted.

During a visit to a memorial for the master sergeant, identified by the surname Lee, Moon shared his condolences and told the family that he was “sorry that the state failed to protect her.”

After a Memorial Day ceremony that morning at the Seoul National Cemetery, Moon visited the memorial to Lee at the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and commiserated with her parents, Blue House spokesperson Park Kyung-mi said.

“I can only imagine the grief you are experiencing,” he was quoted as telling them.

In response, Lee’s parents demanded a thorough investigation to “avenge the wrong done to our daughter and restore her good name.” Moon pledged to have the matter thoroughly investigated, adding that the experience “must have taken a heavy toll” on the parents and urging them to “look after your health,” Park said.

Also visiting the memorial was Minister of National Defense Suh Wook, whom Moon directed to “not only investigate this thoroughly but use this as an opportunity to reform military culture.”

South Korea President Moon Jae-in, during his visit to the memorial for the Air Force master sergeant who died by suicide after being sexually assaulted by a fellow service member, consoles the victim’s family members on Sunday. (Yonhap News)

In an address given while attending the 66th Memorial Day ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery, Moon said, “I offer my deep apologies to the people for the bad practices that unfortunately still remain in military culture, and that have caused a tragic death.”

He went on to say that he intended to “set right” the military culture practices “not only for the sake of soldiers’ human rights but also for the sake of morale and national security.”

“Rewarding patriotism is about fully protecting the human rights and day-to-day lives of the people who are dedicating themselves to protecting the country here and now,” he said.

A temporary memorial altar set up for the Air Force master sergeant who died by suicide after being sexually assaulted is pictured Friday at the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap News)

Moon also said that it was “quite historic when a soldier with the Gwangju martial law forces met with surviving family members [from the events of May 1980] to ask for their forgiveness in person, and very meaningful that both ruling and opposition party politicians attended the May 1980 Democratization Movement memorial this year together.”

“I look forward to seeing the spirit of Jeju in April [1948], Gwangju in May [1980] and the National Cemetery in June becoming one for the sake of the Republic of Korea moving forward, as each of them tend to each other’s suffering,” he added.

By Seo Young-ji, staff reporter

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