Korea International War Crimes Tribunal, June 23, 2001, New York
Report on US Crimes in Korea 1945-2001

17. Crimes Committed by U.S. Soldiers
after the Korean War

Min Magazine, 2000

Victim: Yoon Geum Yi (28year old female, U.S. military club worker)

Date: October 28, 1992

Location: Bo San District, Dong Doo Chun

Perpetrator: Kenneth Lee Mackle (20 years old, U.S. 2^nd Division Private)

Abstract:

On October 28,1992, woman named Yoon Geum Yi (28yrs old) who worked at a U.S. military private club was murdered. The club was located in Bo San village in Kyung Ki Province. When a homeowner in the village, Kim Sung Choul, found her body around 4:30 a.m. she was lying naked with an umbrella that had penetrated into her anus and a coke bottle that had penetrated inside her. Later, autopsy found two beer bottles inside her uterus. U.S. 2nd Division Private Kenneth Lee Mackle (20 yrs) apparently hit Yoon Geum Yi on the head with the coke bottle, then penetrated the items inside her as she was lying on the floor bleeding. The body was covered with contusions and bruises. Covering her body was some kind of synthetic detergent powder, and broken matches were shoved inside her mouth, to hide certain types of evidences. The crime occurred approximately 1 a.m. and the cause of the death was determined to be external bleeding and collapse of organs.

After the discovery of her body, 40 homicide detectives investigated the incident along with the U.S. military police. They were able to identify the perpetrator by getting fingerprints from a beer bottle found inside her body. At the first trial held in April 4, 1993, a life sentence without parole was given to the convicted, but the sentence was reduced to 15 years at an Appeals court held on December 16, 1993. They defended reduced sentence by saying that the family had already received from the U.S. military 71 million won ($71,000) for the death thus considered the civil law suit part of the case resolved. Kenneth Mackle filed for an appeal again, but in the court ruling on April 29, 1994 upheld the previous sentence of 15 years. Although people demanded for a formal apology and a criminal investigation under Korean legal system, these were not granted at the time. Due to massive public rage over the Yoon Geum Yi’s murder, in May 17, 1994, some 18 months after the crime, Kenneth Mackle was handed over to Korean police, and now serves his sentence at the Jun Ahn prison for juveniles.

According to the article 22 of the Status of f Forces Agreement (SOFA), a special consideration has to be given to U.S. military personnel, upon request by the U.S. government even if they are convicted in a Korean court of law and serving prison terms in Korean jail. Under this agreement, the Korean authorities have a power to convict but not necessarily prosecute the criminals. Thus it is not guaranteed that Kenneth Mackle will remain in the jail if the U.S. government makes such request.

Victim: Kim Mi Soon (an alias, 53 year old female, owner of Lebenhope)

Location: Lebenhope, Suh Cho district, Seoul

Date: May 29, 1993 Midnight,

Perpetrator: John Roger Chalois (27 years old at the time, U.S. 2nd Division, Private)

Abstract:

John Roger Chalois from the 2nd Division of U.S. armed forces assaulted Kim Mi Soon, the owner of Lebenhope, on the 29th of May 1993, causing a skull fracture. He came into the store after hours, allegedly looking for the nose bridge of his glasses. Then, he kicked and hit her with his fist and sexually assaulted her until she lost consciousness, and fled the scene. At the crime scene, Kim Mi Soon was found with the underpants and stockings taken off her. She was taken to a hospital where she was given an operation on her skull, and lives with the debilitating effects of the trauma.

Victim: Lee Ki Soon (44 year old female, U.S. military club worker)

Location: Dong Doo Chun, Eui Chung Bu

Date:Sept.7, 1996 Early morning,

Perpetrator: Eric Steven Munich (22 years old, U.S. 2nd division 1540th infantry 2nd private)

Abstract:

Lee Ki Soon was found dead in her rented room with a deep, sharp cut in her neck, almost to the point of decapitation, around 10am, September 7, 1996, at Bo San district in Kyung Ki Province. The police suspected the crime to have been perpetrated by a soldier, based on the evidences of military boot prints near location of a crime scene, and the forceful cut by a small knife. U.S. Private Eric Munich from the 2nd division was arrested a few days later on Sept. 11th. Although he denied the charges, citing an alibi, he later confessed to the murder after he was identified by various witnesses that connected him to the crime scene.

According to his testimony, he went to Ms. Lee’s house around 4:30am, intoxicated, to solicit her sexual service. But when she reproached him for not having money, he hit her on the face in a fit of rage, knocking her unconscious. Then he took a pencil-sharpening knife, and sliced her neck.

Victim: Huh Joo Yun ( 22year old female, U.S. military club worker)

Location: 116 Go Jan District, Eui Chung Bu, Kyung Ki Province

Date: Jan.16, 1981 3:30a.m.

Perpetrator: Timothy Jerome Henrix

Abstract:

Ms. Huh Jo Yun met Timothy Henrix, U.S. soldier for a drink at the club where she worked around 10 p.m. Jan 15th, 1998. A couple of hours later, they went to a nearby motel to engage in a sexual intercourse. He was preparing to return to the base a few hours later when she grabbed him to coax him to stay longer. Suddenly he dealt a swift blow to her solar plexus with his elbow, and she soon died. Then to hide the crime, he set the bed on fire.

On Jan. 21st, 1998, the corpse was examined a few days later, and Timothy Henrix was taken into custody at a detention center for U.S. military men who are suspected of having committed a crime. He confessed that he hated her chain-smoking, and killed her in a fit of rage because of her behavior which annoyed him. But when the U.S. officers in a court questioned him, he refuted his earlier statement, claiming that he had only made the confession under a threat, that all he did was to knock her unconscious.

Victim: Lee Chung Sook (female)

Location: 302 Sae Noo Ri Motel, Sang Yun-4 District, Dong Doo Chun Kyung Ki Province

Date: April 3, 1997 11p.m.

Perpetrator: Lionel Taylor

Abstract:

Early in the morning around 6am, Lee Chung Sook went to see the owner of her residence to pay rent and some of the money that she owed to them. She had just come home, and had taken out all the money from the small safe box in her room. She showed the owner the money (approx. $450) but explained that some of the money was needed to pay other debts. She came back, put the rest of the money ($420) back in to the box, and went down to chat with the owner. When she came back to her room an hour later, the door was opened and the Private Taylor, who was staying with her, was lying on her bed. Fearing that somehow her money may get taken away, she tried to leave the room with the box to give to the owner. He then hit her across the face and chest, yelling “Where are you going, you whore!” He had physically abused her in the past. She left the box in the room, went to the owner to ask to get the box. When the owner went up to Ms. Lee’s room to get the box, Taylor told her ”The money’s all there”. Later it was found that it was $124 short. Ms. Lee had gone back to the room to find Taylor mumbling himself. She said to him ”If you a problem, say it. If you hit me again, I will report you to the military police.” As soon as she could finish the sentence, he started to punch her face and knocked her down, then kicked her. Then she lost consciousness. She regained her consciousness 16 hours later, barely being able to see with her swollen eyes. She went downstairs to see the owner who called the military police who then took her to a hospital nearby. She was treated in the hospital for three months for jawbone fracture, bruises, and internal bleeding.

Victim: Cho Joong Phil (22 year old male, a senior at Hong university)

Location: restroom at Burger King, Yi Tae Won District, Seoul

Date: April 3, 1997 11p.m.

Perpetrator: Arthur Jay Patterson (male, 20 years old)

Abstract:

On April 3^rd, around 11pm, Korean-American Edward Lee and the son of an U.S. military officer Arthur Patterson stabbed to death Cho Joong Phil in the bathroom of a Burger King restaurant. Arthur Patterson and Edward Lee had been hanging out at the Burger King with friends. They had been playing with a jack knife when Edward Lee said to Arthur Patterson, “I’ll show you something” then proceeded to follow Cho Joong Phil into the bathroom. Then Edward Lee stabbed him to death while Patterson held him down. Then, they came out and put on their friends’ shirts and caps, and walked out. As they walked out, they said to their friends, ”We played a bloody game. We killed, for fun.” On April 26th, Edward Lee was convicted of murder and Arthur Patterson was convicted of assault.

Victim: Park Soon Nuh (66year old female, the owner of the currency exchange)

Location: Currency Exchange in American Town, Goon San City, North Cholla Province

Date: August 29, 1998 5p.m.

Perpetrator: Eric Halbertson (21 years old, A Private in the 8^th division)

Abstract:

When a customer Park, came to the currency exchange run by Park Soon Nuh around 5 p.m. the door, usually open, was closed. Suspecting that something had occurred, he reported to a patrolling police officer. The officer went into a room adjacent to the store and found Park Soon Nuh with multiple stab wounds laid dead in the closet. Soon witnesses were gathered who identified the U.S. soldier running from the store with bloodstain on his right hand. After some investigation, the police arrested Eric Halbertson.

Victim: Shin Cha Gum (45 year old female , prostitute)

Date: Jan.30, 1999 approx. 2-3 a.m.

Location: 429-7 Bo San District, Dong Doo Chun

Perpetrator: Unidentified U.S. soldier

Abstract:

On Jan. 30 th, Shin Cha Gum was found strangled to death by electrical wires. She was found naked with blood on her socks and undergarments. On her body was written “Whore” with a lipstick. When her friend noticed that Ms. Shin had failed to appear for work, she asked the neighbors to look for her. One of the neighbors told her that the night before; she had heard voices of social greeting and introduction with American men, presumably soldiers.

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