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US military authorities in South Korea have apologized over the alleged rape of a 67-year-old local woman by a US soldier, saying the case was “an affront” to all servicemen, officials have said.
The apology came hours after South Korean police arrested a 23-year-old US soldier for allegedly raping and beating the woman in an alley in Seoul.
Major General John Morgan, the acting US 8th army commander, said in a statement posted on the US military website late Sunday that the case tainted the reputation of US soldiers.
“I deeply regret and personally apologize for this terrible incident that has resulted in grave injury to a Korean civilian,” Morgan said.
“This vicious act is an affront to all soldiers.”
The arrested soldier initially refused to cooperate with police pending the arrival of US legal officers, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
Morgan said the US military was “cooperating fully with Korean authorities” over the case and a joint investigation was underway.
Police want to obtain court permission to detain the soldier in South Korean rather than US military custody. The victim is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
Some 29,000 US troops are stationed here to support the South Korean armed forces against any attack from North Korea.
