The unidentified 20-year-old American soldier stationed in Dongducheon, 70 kilometers north of the capital, is in detention on charges of intruding into the home of a 70-year-old man in the border city Saturday morning and attempting to rape his 64-year-old wife, said the officials at the Dongducheon Police Station.
Maj. Gen. Michael Tucker, commander of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division said, “We deeply regret this deplorable incident and offer the family and the Korean people our most heartfelt sympathy.” He also added in the statement, “is absolutely not in keeping with the high standards we expect of our soldier. We will continue to work in close cooperation with the Korean National Police as they investigate this most unfortunate incident.”
Apparently intoxicated, the 2nd Infantry Division soldier entered the couple’s home in the city of Dongducheon, about 70 kilometers north of Seoul, around 9:00 a.m., according to police. The private was caught three hours later by police while wandering around the couple‘s home.
The woman and her 70-year-old husband have been treated at a hospital, but they were in serious condition, police said.
“We hope that this incident does not tarnish the years of friendship between our soldiers and the Korean people,” Tucker said.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from communist North Korea. The two Koreas are still technically in a state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.
(아주경제 이수지 기자)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com