The South Korean marines were sent in after monsoon rains flooded a rural section of the country’s heartland last July. When the ground gave way, five of them were swept away in the churning brown water and one, Lance Cpl. Nearly a year later, the death of the 20-year-old marine has become an impeachment threat for South Korea’s leader, President Yoon Suk Yeol. The South Korean military is no stranger to tragic accidents, but this latest episode has evolved into the first major political crisis for Mr. Yoon since his party’s crushing defeat in parliamentary elections last month. The career military officer who investigated Lance Corporal Chae’s death has accused the Defense Ministry of whitewashing the probe and absolving top military brass of responsibility — all under pressure from Mr. Yoon.

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Persons: Lance Cpl, Chae Su, Yoon Suk, Yoon, Corporal Chae’s Organizations: South, Defense Ministry Locations: United States, Korea, China