US soldier investigated for punching and breaking South Korean teen’s jaw

A US Forces Korea (USFK) sergeant in his 30s is under investigation for allegedly assaulting an 18-year-old male student in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi province, leaving the teenager with severe injuries.

According to the police, the sergeant, identified as A, is accused of punching the teenager, B, in the face near Pyeongtaek Station around 12:30am on Sunday. The attack caused significant injuries, and A has been charged with assault. The Pyeongtaek police station booked sergeant A on charges of assault.

The victim’s father described the severity of the injuries during an interview with JTBC on Tuesday. “The doctor said it was hard to believe this injury was caused by a person’s fist,” he said. “In all his years as a plastic surgeon, he had never seen bones damaged to this extent from a punch.”

He added that B would need to wear oral prosthetics and keep his jaw stabilised for at least eight weeks. “The injuries are so severe that he might suffer lifelong complications,” the father said.

The sergeant claimed that he was also assaulted by B, prompting police to charge the teenager with assault. However, CCTV footage from the scene does not show B physically reacting to the sergeant’s actions.

The altercation reportedly began when A confronted B, asking, “Why are you staring at me?” Witnesses mentioned that A had been arguing loudly with a South Korean woman at the time, which attracted the attention of passers-by.