By Well the name of the USFK servicemember accused of rape has now been published in the media with the news that Private Kevin Flippin has admitted and apologized for the rape of a Korean woman in Dongducheon a few weeks ago:
A 2nd Infantry Division soldier confessed to brutally raping and burning a 17-year-old South Korean girl last month, during the opening day of his trial Friday in Uijeongbu District Court.
Pvt. Kevin Lee Flippin, 21, of the 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, admitted to a charge of robbery and rape, and another charge of aggravated rape for his actions at a dormitory-style apartment and hotel building near Camp Casey on Sept. 24.
Prosecutors recommended that Flippin receive 15 years in prison when the verdict and sentence are delivered, which is scheduled for Nov. 1.
Flippin’s case, along with the case of a Yongsan Garrison soldier accused of rape last month, have resulted in protests and led government officials to investigate whether to negotiate with the United States for greater powers in detaining and investigating servicemembers suspected of crimes.
Flippin took a deep breath, bowed his head and struggled to utter his first words to chief judge Pak In-sik during testimony.
“I was wrong, I know. It’s not an excuse,” Flippin said before handing the microphone to a Korean translator.
Flippin finished his statement by whispering to the court translator. According to the translator, Flippin took full responsibility and said he had a hard time imagining he was capable of the acts he committed. He then said he understood that he deserved to be punished. [Stars & Stripes]
You can read more at the link but the usual suspects are still trying to make this a SOFA issue and they don’t even see the irony that they are complaining about the SOFA when the US servicemember was handed over to Korean authorities when requested, is being tried in a Korean court, and will spend what ever time he is sentenced in a Korean jail. Pretty much these people complaining about the SOFA won’t be happy until there is no US servicemembers in South Korea which is what they should be protesting if that is what they really believe instead of making false SOFA arguments.
By the way even if he receives a 15 year sentence I seriously I doubt it will remain that long once public anger dies down and his appeal is heard which will likely reduce his sentence. I see him probably receiving a 7 year sentence based off of past cases like this. This guy is obviously a scumbag and 15 years is probably a fairer sentence to give this guy considering the damage he has done to the victim’s life.
She hasn’t seen...
9:25 am on October 21st, 2011 1
Private Kevin Flippin Apologizes In Court for Rape of South Korean Woman
Well, did the judge flippin’ accept it?!
10:51 am on October 21st, 2011 2
I always look forward to the part where the family and friends show up and tells the court what a great kid he was but he had a difficult and abusive childhood.
11:06 am on October 21st, 2011 3
The rapist is just a 20 something year old kid. He made a mistake with alcohol, he deserves another chance, and 15 years is too harsh. Give him couple of years in prison and make him do some community work during the time. Not American soldiers should be demonized over this one incident. USFK is helping to protect Korea so we need these young men from America.
12:52 pm on October 21st, 2011 4
I just wondered by the way he confessed if he was not first beatened then mistreated in other ways then told if he confessed the beating would stop and he would get a light sentence////
Overseas they do this sort of thing
1:41 pm on October 21st, 2011 5
You wonder if Korean authorities would BEAT a USFK soldier? You must think Koreans are 3rd world barbarians or something. Obviously the guilt, shame and dishonor got to the kid. You have some skewed views for overseas countries and you need to get out more.
3:11 pm on October 21st, 2011 6
Not to excuse, condone, or even understand his heinous behavior, but at least he is accepting responsibility for the act and the consequences. You don’t see too much of that anymore. But, he not only harmed a 17 year old girl in one of the worst ways possible, he also stained his uniform and country. The young woman will never be the same again, I just hope she can recover to the best of her ability. 15 years is good for starters.
4:18 pm on October 21st, 2011 7
Interestingly, prior to the Flippin trial, a Korean national was senetenced to 10 years for raping a 2ID Soldier. Not a word about that in the media.
5:00 pm on October 21st, 2011 8
#7
If it wasn’t reported where did you learn that?
5:44 pm on October 21st, 2011 9
#4
“Overseas they do this sort of things”
Oh is that right, KingKitty? So it’s the old Americans are never guilty in foreign soil? It’s the good old case of the racist Koreans framing the innocent American? Is that right, sunshine? Is that really it? Next thing you will be telling me is he’s being tortured in Korean prison.
See? This is why I don’t like you guys. This is why I don’t like to treat these scum USFK rapists with kid gloves. And it’s a shame Korean prisons have to treat these American criminals to specialty hotel guest permits in a specially built prison hotels for foreign prisoners. This American GI arrested is a rapist, I hope they put him in the cell and lose the key.
No more special treatments for USFK criminals! USFK should get the hell out of Korea! And also US should get the hell out of Asia! Go home, we’re sick of you guys belly aching complaining and making trouble!
7:01 pm on October 21st, 2011 10
What sort of life do you think he is in for once he gets out? I wonder what, if any, signs of mental illness he showed before this. I find his actions so hard to fathom.
7:46 pm on October 21st, 2011 11
Thank you for the wtf moment tom.
9:00 pm on October 21st, 2011 12
Better him to rot in a ROK prison than a USA stockade.
11:32 pm on October 21st, 2011 13
@7-8
According to Marmot’s, a Korean was sentenced to 3.5 years for sexual assault.
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2011/10/22/man-sentenced-to-3-years-6-months-for-sexual-assault-on-female-gi/
12:43 am on October 22nd, 2011 14
I once had to spend the night at the Yongsan emergency room. Man, there were A LOT of tormented young and drunk soldiers in there that night. It’s easy to see how something like this happens, just too many lost souls to count.
1:23 am on October 22nd, 2011 15
Is Tom flippin out? Tom, are you ok?
/I’m scared
//hold me
5:13 am on October 22nd, 2011 16
There once was a prisoner named Flippin,
and when he needed a shower, was strippin’.
but his cellmate said, “Stay!”
“My name is Andre.”
Then he bent over and put more than the tip in.
8:07 am on October 22nd, 2011 17
I will say it. How about some pressure from somebody really inside. Stomp stomp really inside. Something like this. If you go along with us, things will be easier. Maybe drop 3/4 of your time. Let you dissapear back into where you choose. Sounds a little strange to me. What a couple of weeks in the Hump really brought this guy to his knees. I have taken people to the country club there. All the Tv you can want and no physical labor. Not buying it. Go sell your goods to Tom.
5:06 pm on October 22nd, 2011 18
Something inside me says that something fishy is going on.
EVERYTHING is wierd. With USFK still being here trying to ‘enforce’ and ‘strenghten’ ROK-US Alliance(why would a proud country which is raging through Afganistan and where-the-flip-not do that?), with the protests that the ROK civilians carry-out(why? ROK needs USFK, no?)with PFC Kevin actually ADMITTING something that is not accurately proven and so on.
Someone intellectual and daring enough care to enlighten me?
12:14 pm on October 23rd, 2011 19
Not saying americans would do this sort of thing just the whole case is odd up to why this female is in one of these hotels in the first place….I think its a case of prostitution gone wrong…and yes I am certain the koreans beat or mistreat to get what they want….I do get out
2:59 pm on October 23rd, 2011 20
Nothing points to a case of prostitution gone wrong. The video tape supposedly shows him randomly checking rooms. She did not accompany him there. Plus the bruises and burns tell a different story. I hope you are not trying to find excuses for this guy.
5:44 pm on October 23rd, 2011 21
I have known a few situations where American GI’s did some very unbelievable things under the influence of alcohol and unknown stresses.
Now back in the day, when Mary Jane was an option —
7:46 pm on October 23rd, 2011 22
21. You bring a valid point concerning alcohol vs marijuana.
A guy goes home after work and blows a joint: No fights, he goes to sleep, he’s normal the next day. He might damage the cookie jar.
Alcohol on the other hand… Well, we all know: Addiction issues, violence, hangovers, physical damage, mental damage – yet it is legal. Very confusing.
8:24 pm on October 23rd, 2011 23
When facing stiff legal inspection,
Flippin’s posture needs a bit of correction.
But a trick of the light,
with trousers so tight,
makes you first look at his massive erection.
…you just know you are going to scroll back up to the top and look at his crotch just to see what I’m talking about.
Perverts.
9:01 pm on October 23rd, 2011 24
Smitzsimmons #14, I would sure like to hear more about your experience. Feel free to e-mail me at hiler8@gmail.com if you like.
Chris
10:53 pm on October 24th, 2011 25
CHICKENHEAD #23: Haha, you didn’t get me on that one! I knew I wasn’t gonna scroll all the frikkin way up to see his ‘erection’.
Yeah but it don’t look right. Just an illusion where his top garment is crumpled the wrong way.
With shirts so tight, and in the midst of inspection,
and a photo clicked wrong and a slight misinterpretation,
a picture of erection is the wrong suggestion,
CHICKENHEAD, you better get a eye-sight therapy session.
Beat that. HA.
ps: I sense we are going off-topic here.
11:36 pm on October 24th, 2011 26
With perception as sharp as a razor,
and a mind focused just like a laser,
when looking at pants,
one does run the chance,
of being labeled a nasty cack-gazer.
3:27 am on October 26th, 2011 27
It breaks my heart for everyone involved, Kevin is not a bad kid, unfortunately he made some bad decisions, I pray God has mercy on him, I don’t condone what he has done, but he was friends with my daughter and he is young and I feel 15 yrs. is too extreme for a first time offense.
3:56 am on October 26th, 2011 28
stephanie,
I understand… but I might ask a question.
Honestly, if somebody did what he did to YOUR daughter as a teenager, would you feel 15 years to be too harsh?
4:38 am on October 26th, 2011 29
4: I don’t think he was beaten or otherwise coerced into a confession. It seems to me he’s been coached by legal counsel on how to deal with this to get the best possible outcome. From what I’ve read so far, Flippin has apologized, offered monetary compensation and he hides his face every time there is a camera nearby. These are not very common reactions for Americans accused of a crime.
7:31 am on October 26th, 2011 30
Stephanie, if that was my daughter, I’d want her to stay as far away as she could from this guy.
7:34 am on October 26th, 2011 31
Just to add to my one-liner. He may be a swell guy but if I had a daughter who was close with him, the fact that he was even accused of being a rapist, in addition to burning the girl’s tits, no matter how much of a good guy he is, I would NEVER feel comfortable with letting my daughter hang out with him ever again. If you want to roll the die, it’s up to you.
9:13 am on October 26th, 2011 32
Kevin spent a lot of time at my home, I never would have thought he was capable of this, I am not making excuses for his actions, my concern is what they might do to him over there, yes he needs punished I agree, but I don’t agree with torturing him and am just concerned he comes home in a body bag, that he does not deserve! There is no easy answer for any of this, all I can do is keep him in my prayers.
9:38 am on October 26th, 2011 33
Stephanie,
Don’t worry about his treatment in prison. He will not be tortured and he will not come home in a body bag.
Modern Korea is not like a 1970s-era Vietnam movie.
The conditions in average Korean prisons are probably better than the conditions in American prisons. They are certainly much, much safer.
Further, American servicemembers go to a separate prison where they are housed together. The military keeps a close eye on them and even delivers American food which they prepare in a communal kitchen.
His prison experience in Korea will be MUCH better than what he would have in any American prison… especially for rape.
Further, as per comment #29, he is doing everything “correctly” in terms of dealing with the Korean legal system…
…much in contrast to the last guy convicted of robbery who did everything incorrectly… from damaging a police car to denying his actions in the face of overwhelming evidence to getting into further trouble while awaiting trial to swearing at the judge… etc.
So, don’t worry about extrajudicial punishment… and it is likely his actual sentence will be less than 15 years…
…although video evidence of him actively searching for a victim, the victim being underage, and hours of rape and torture are pretty hardcore… so who knows.
On a side note, you semi-validated JoeC’s statement/prediction in comment #2… and now he is going to get a big head.
What was he like as a kid? Was his home life OK? Any problems at school or with the law? Etc?
11:40 am on October 26th, 2011 34
Stephanie, you undoubtedly knew a different Kevin than the one who committed the acts he was arrested for. What he did was not a typical “first time offense” for a young man. Robbery might be, but rape and TORTURE?!? He may very well be a person that alcohol uncorks the evil genie within him that sobriety keeps in check. A normal person who does not have that in him will never do something like that, no matter how drunk.
The first thing that alcohol affects is the part of the brain that controls judgment and inhibitions. If commiting those acts isn’t there in the first place, a person wouldn’t have to exercise judgment or control inhibitions, because those options just don’t exist in that individual. Apparently they do in Kevin. Fifteen years is light, compared to the lifelong sentence he imposed on that young girl.
12:07 pm on October 26th, 2011 35
I agree, I would feel differently if it was my child, I would feel differently if it was my child who committed the crime, I know he is a troubled young man, so for whatever reason I try to give I will undoubtedly make someone uneasy, I know that I feel for everyone involved, including the young girl, my heart breaks for all of them. But I knew this young man and I hurt for him too. It is a no win situation, I only pray that everyone heals from this, Kevin should be punished, and he is aware of that. I can only leave it up to God, and pray for all of them.
12:17 pm on October 26th, 2011 36
Agreeing with the ROKheads. He is doing everything right as far as Korean culture and the judicial system is concerned. If anything this might get him a more lenient sentence. However, as previously noted, the age of the victim along with the other circumstances might hurt him. The fact that he was drunk is another plus for him, as far as Koreans are concerned.
He will is not and will not be tortured by the Koreans. If given a choice, I would certainly pick going to Korean jail over being imprisoned in the US, or military prison.
As far as praying for him, that raises my hackles a bit. How about praying for the victim instead?
You *think* you knew him but there is a girl here who definitely knows him now, and knows him very well. Had I a daughter, he would never again glimpse her face. Bury it. He should be dead to you at this point.
12:21 pm on October 26th, 2011 37
35. I can only leave it up to God, and pray for all of them.
One might conclude it was left to God from the beginning yet it didn’t turn out too well for the girl, did it? Maybe He is testing her. Or, maybe she’s a heathen and deserved it. We ought to leave gods out of this mess. A drunk guy raped a girl, he’s going to jail…
8:24 am on October 27th, 2011 38
I feel for this kid, however, he made his own decisions, how would we feel if a S. Korean Kids raped an american girl we would want justice. Is 15 years a bit harsh yes it is. But, look at the country he is in they have harsher punishments and he commited his crime on their soil not ours. I believe he should have had ameican lawyers and he will still be able to appeal the decision depending on what the military wants to do. I live 10 mins from the town he grew up in it is a little farm town he new better. Drinking is not an excuse for anything. Hopefully the sentencing will come down a lot lighter then what the reccomendation is we will have to wait until Nov. 1st to see. Think of this as it was your little girl that got raped you might feel a bit different. He deserves a fair trial and then the punishment that he receives. I am sure that our military will make sure he get the trial he deserves.
9:32 am on October 27th, 2011 39
#38. proves my point yet again. another hillbilly who joined army because he had no options, but he ended up raping a korean girl and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
9:38 am on October 27th, 2011 40
I take offense to the hillbilly thing, I am from a small town and their are options, I have 3 degrees and a masters, so it is all in what you decide to do with your life not where you are from. There are a ton of people from big cities that have joined the army and have raped and committed crimes.
9:47 am on October 27th, 2011 41
This is a moral and ethical issue, it has nothing to do with where you re from, I am thankful that people decide to join the armed forces, My grandfathers and uncle were in the Navy. This kid made a bad bad decision and will be punished punished for what he as done. However, he still deserves a fair trial and defense and granted under the law. He does deserve to be tried in the South Korean Courts and should do his time in their system. I am not sure why everyone is praying for him as he committed the crime he made his decision and the girl he raped and burned did not have a choice we should be thinking about her.
10:01 am on October 27th, 2011 42
Tracy, you are the 1%. Of hillbillies.
Sorry, I kid.
10:53 am on October 27th, 2011 43
okay, that works. However, I have noticed I need to proofread before I hit the send button. Not all of us small town people are hillbillies.
4:02 pm on October 27th, 2011 44
Tracy, you and I have known each other for awhile, and I would feel differently if it were my daughter, I think people need to ask themselves if they would feel the same way they do if it was someone they knew, and my prayers go out to everyone, the victim as well, yes I pray for those who have done wrong. Everyone will have their own opinions about it, there will never be a right answer to make anyone happy.
6:47 pm on October 27th, 2011 45
Thank goodness Korea is a pretty secular society. Imagine if he (and possibly she) were punished according to the bible or the Koran. HMMMMDOGGY!
7:24 pm on October 27th, 2011 46
Hi Stephanie, as I mentioned earlier, there are certain variables that are game changers. This definitely changes your relationship with him. Or at least it should. Would you EVER feel comfortable knowing your daughter was alone with this guy going forward? Yeah, you once baked cookies for the guy and he carried your groceries before. But would you ever allow him to be alone with your daughter ever again?
You yourself say, if it was my daughter, I would feel differently. Well, this is someone’s daughter. Anyone that is ever raped, sodomized, mutilated, and tortured for hours is someone’s daughter. Anyone who has a daughter would want this guy killed. However, he is going to get off light. So light, that he may not even learn his lesson. This girl will live with this trauma for the rest of her life. She may never recover from this.
8:14 pm on October 27th, 2011 47
I asked before and never saw an answer but will try again. When someone returns after a conviction and serving time like this in an overseas legal system are they registered as a sex offender in the US?
8:20 pm on October 27th, 2011 48
There is a right answer and it is what is being done. He is being tried, convicted, and sentenced for the crime he committed. If you did not know him you would feel different. Personal opinions need to be put aside and it needs to be looked at from a non bias opinion. He is guilty of a horrible crime, this girl has to live with this the rest of her life. She deserves justices for what he did to her.
8:26 pm on October 27th, 2011 49
Yes, this will follow him back to the states. He will have to register as a sex offender and the felony charges will follow him.
12:37 am on October 28th, 2011 50
#49 – are you sure about that? It will be a conviction in the ROK and not the US – which I’m sure people will know about back stateside, but I’m not convinced there are mechanisms in place to require him to register as a sex offender. I could be wrong – just taking a guess on the way I’ve seen these things pan out before. If there are any legal-eagles out there that know the exact answer, would appreciate to know…
4:51 am on October 28th, 2011 51
It is because it will follow on his united states military records. He not the same as if it was done by a civilian. He military records follow him everywhere.
5:00 am on October 28th, 2011 52
#50
Here is the closest I could come to an authoritative answer:
So it appears to come down to what the State Department’s Human Rights report has to say about the South Korean justice system. My guess is, from about the last 20 years or so onward, that they would be satisfied with it.
6:08 am on October 28th, 2011 53
Joe, thanks for posting the statutes, I was going to do that when I got to work. But, just to let everyone know even if he did not qualify under civilian statutes he would of under military so this crime will follow him where ever he goes along with his dishonorable discharge.
6:36 am on October 28th, 2011 54
It looks like Andre Fisher who almost strangled to death and robbed a taxi driver will get off with no jail time, as Korean courts have reduced his sentence to 4 years probation.
http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/113_97542.html
This all puts a heavy weight on the Korean judge who must weigh the benefits/costs of putting a GI in Korean jail, at a time when he’s getting calls from the Korean government offices to go lightly on this guy or cause a diplomatic wrangle with America whose congressman is threatening to bring hail and brime stone on Korea.
The big losers are the Korean victims and their family. There is no justice for them. Despite all the numbers and figures stated here. You can’t deny these facts. If Korean court tries the US soldiers in Korean court, the conviction rate is over 90%, but their sentencing is for sure, reduced to nothing. The convicted GI gets off free. Hand them over to the US military trial, and their conviction rate of less than 4% means, you might as well expect the world to end and pigs are able to fly before the US military puts one of their own in jail for a crime committed against a non-US military personnel. We are expecting the US military to do their own self policing. Koreans know the card is stacked high against them.
So, just look at the pattern for this guy who raped a teen. So far it’s the same old pattern, with the USFK and ESL crowd support of this guy building up already. He’s not going to spend not one day in jail for this in Korea. There is no justice for Koreans, the entire judicial system in Korea is stacked against Koreans, in favor of foreigners and USFK, and open to US government sponsored pressures.
Name me one US soldier convicted criminal who spent a significant time in jail for crimes committed in Korea – either in Korea or the US military prisons. Name me one. Except for one case in, Markel, there are none.
6:44 am on October 28th, 2011 55
lol at no response to #54
6:50 am on October 28th, 2011 56
For U.S. inmates in S. Korean prison, time feels like it’s standing still
By Seth Robson
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 13, 2005
View Gallery (4 images)
The U.S. prisoners share a kitchen where they prepare their own meals from ingrediants supplied by U.S. Forces Korea under the Status of Forces Agreement.
Seth Robson / S&S
Lightbox link Lightbox link Lightbox link CHEONAN JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, South Korea — Peaceful Oriental music greets visitors to this collection of cellblocks surrounded by high concrete walls and guard towers about a two-hour drive south of Seoul.
It is the place authorities have chosen to incarcerate U.S. servicemembers convicted of serious crimes by South Korean courts. Six U.S. servicemembers currently are detained here among a population of just under 500 South Korean teenage violent offenders.
The U.S. inmates’ crimes range from drunken driving causing death, to drug dealing and murder. The most notorious of the U.S. inmates is a 32-year-old Camp Casey soldier convicted of murdering a Tongduchoen club worker, then mutilating her body in 1992. That inmate will complete his 15-year sentence in 2007.
The prison’s chief of security, Lee Kyoung- young, said the U.S. inmates behave well, although one U.S. prisoner was recently moved to another prison for fighting. A few other U.S. servicemembers, with ongoing cases, are at other prisons but Cheonan is the eventual destination for U.S. servicemembers jailed by the South Korean courts, he said.
Lee said U.S. prisoners are treated differently than South Korean inmates because of the status of forces agreement, which dictates how they must be handled.
They are segregated from South Korean prisoners and don’t perform the sort of hard labor assigned to adult inmates convicted of serious offenses.
SOFA regulations also dictate that U.S. inmates get individual cells, whereas Korean inmates share cells. And U.S. Forces Korea supplies the U.S. inmates with Western food.
Only one servicemember — a U.S. Air Force captain serving five years for possession, use and dealing of cocaine — agreed to talk, on condition that his name not be printed.
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A sense of isolation
The 40-year-old officer, a native of Los Angeles, spoke inside the cellblock he shares with the other U.S. inmates.
Inside the walls of the prison, there is a large exercise yard where South Korean prisoners in blue overalls play basketball and participate in regimented calisthenics sessions overseen by guards.
Next to the yard are several dozen concrete cellblocks, a medical clinic and a factory where inmates learn skills such as welding.
The cellblock that houses the U.S. inmates is a gray, concrete hallway, stretching the length of the building, with iron cell-doors spaced along the side. U.S. inmates live in one half of the cellblock, South Korean inmates in the other.
The captain showed off his small cell, containing a bed, desk, television and a large collection of books. In prison, he has renewed his Christian faith and studied toward a master’s degree in theology from a U.S. seminary, he said.
The drug offenses that landed him in prison happened while he served as an Air Force public affairs officer at Yongsan Garrison in 2000, he said.
“There was usage and drug abuse involved … I was on the wrong track, one thing led to another and I got arrested. They got me for being a drug dealer, but 99 percent of my case was drug use,” said the captain, who added that he is determined to put that part of his life behind him.
“I understand I made a grave mistake and my life is forever affected by it. I am and will always be deeply regretful for my decisions. I lost my job, my status. I lost my father, who died three months after my arrest. It has been a very deep and emotional experience,” he said.
The officer wouldn’t say much about the other U.S. inmates, some of whom have been convicted of extreme acts of violence.
“We are here together. We are here by chance. It is a small environment, so we have to learn to get along,” he said.
The U.S. inmates get one hour of recreation a day, six days a week, said the captain, who enjoyed golf, tennis, basketball and scuba diving before he went to prison. These days he just walks around outside during recreation time, he said.
The only activity the U.S. inmates do together is cook the food delivered by USFK in their communal kitchen, he said.
“We get the same ingredients all the time — vegetables, fruit, meat and condiments. We have to figure out how to put it all together. We all like meat loaf. I have been on the Atkins low-carb diet, so I do a lot of salads. We cook spaghetti and a whole lot of chicken. We bake it, pan fry it, deep fry it, steam it,” he said.
On Thursday afternoon, a pot of water boiled on a gas stove in the kitchen as several U.S. prisoners, some in their blue prison overalls, one in shorts and a T-shirt, wandered in and out as they prepared a meal.
Outside world far away
The hardest part about being in a South Korean prison is the isolation from familiar things, the captain said.
“It is deep. It is emotional. We feel dislocated … disconnected from everything that we are familiar with,” he said. “We are not at home. Our units have basically abandoned us. The distance from the U.S. to Korea is so great that family members cannot afford to travel here.”
In five years, the officer said he’s only received one family visit, two years ago, when his brother and sister-in-law came for Christmas and were allowed to spend two hours with him.
Soldiers get visits from the Camp Humphreys-based 249th Military Police Battalion twice a week, the captain said.
“There have been one or two officers in my chain of command who reached back despite the situation, kept in touch and did what they could despite the gravity of what I had done,” he said.
Army chaplains resumed visits to the prison nine months ago after an 18-month period when they did not come, and there are regular visits by American missionaries working in South Korea, he said.
The U.S. inmates see the Korean prisoners only in passing, the captain said.
“We know who they are and they know who we are, but we are segregated. Technically we are not supposed to intermingle,” he said.
Some of the U.S. prisoners have learned to speak Korean but most have not, he said.
The U.S. inmates are not allowed to watch broadcast television, but can listen to South Korean radio stations and receive videotapes. Some subscribe to English-language newspapers to stay in touch with current events.
“I was up studying on September 11, 2001. A senior guard came to my window just before midnight and indicated that there was an attack in New York and the towers had fallen down. We read the newspapers the next morning and listened to the radio,” recalled the officer, who also follows the war in Iraq closely.
“I wish I was over there (in Iraq). I had a family member over there who served almost a year — my uncle who was in the reserves. He sent me pictures and told me about the bad things he saw,” he said.
The officer said his time in a South Korean prison would never leave him.
“It is part of who I am. Hopefully it will make me stronger and wiser,” he said
6:52 am on October 28th, 2011 57
Oh, and Stephanie, you don’t have to worry for your poor boy. I promise you he won’t spend that much time in jail, if any. The fifteen year sentencing asked by Korean prosecutors is because they are playing a let’s pretend make believe. It’s because they know all the media has their eye on this case and they must act tough in front of the public or else face a riot on the streets. It doesn’t mean the judge will accept that recommendation – unlike what all the people here are saying how unfair the 15 year sentence is. They are all jumping to conclusions based on no evidence. By any small chance he gets to spend time in prison for few months, he’ll enjoy his little R&R in the very hospitable recreation center in Cheonan where they keep all the foreign prisoners with their designer meals and designer social welfare programs to make them all happy and nice. Korean prisoners don’t get the same treatments, only the foreigners have this priviledge in Korea. As for that Korean girl whose in psychological care, she’ll have to live with that trauma for the rest of her life under treatments. Too bad for her, but Korean justice system is stacked against Koreans.
6:55 am on October 28th, 2011 58
Tom, There are plenty more convictions that have taken place over the years. All you have to do is look for them. That article took me all of 3 mins to find and I could have posted a ton more just did not want to take up the space.
7:04 am on October 28th, 2011 59
Tracy, the only thing that your 2005 article does is, verify everything I’ve said already. You really believe this guy will serve 15 years in prison? Right. Even Markel only spent 15 for a torture/murder. How’s it possible that this guy will be spending 15 years in prison for *only* a rape, when a guy who almost murdered and robbed a taxi driver gets off with no time? FAT CHANCE. The American supporters of this guy will never allow that to happen, and the Korean justice system is stacked against Koreans, while giving preferential treatment for foreigners at the expense of Korean tax payers!
We need to get rid of this government who can only kowtow to every foreign pressures, and take back our justice system!
7:05 am on October 28th, 2011 60
Tom, you have the wrong guy, that’s not Andre Fisher. This guy is a corporal.
7:12 am on October 28th, 2011 61
Tom, Because our prisons are so harsh over here, we have cable, rec centers, 3 meals a day, any classes you want to take, computers for them to use. No matter what happens over there he will have to register as a sex offender, he will have a dishonorable dicharge. He will have a hard life once he gets back to the states. But, I bet he does time over there, it may not be the 15 years but, he would have never received that here either. The chances that he could have been out in less than a year with probation on his first offense are very possible in the states. Dont, get me wrong I feel that the crime he has committed is one of the worse and the punishment should be very harsh, but, in all reality in the states or any other country it is not punished like it should be. But, he will spend some time in their prison and it will be worse than ours just for the fact he has no family to go see him and he is not in america it is still a foregin prison. His life will never be the same and it shouldnt. We will see on Nov. 1st what they decide to do. And there should be no american defending his actions, no american would defend the action a Korean man coming over here and raping an american girl.
7:13 am on October 28th, 2011 62
John, I don’t know for sure if he’s the guy or not, it sounds like it, but does it matter anyway? 0 time for attempted murder and robbery – same USFK unit.
7:18 am on October 28th, 2011 63
Tom, I am on your side, I agree the punishment does not fit the crime, but, it wouldnt over here either. He will not spend 15 years that is a fact. But, I believe he will spend some well deserved time in their system and that would be worse than bring him back to the states and giving him time. Yes, our system is screwed up, I deal with it all the time. I do not support anything he has done what so ever. I feel greatly for that little girl. I believe that he has done being he was their representing our country makes it even worse, but, the reality is he would not have a very harsh punishment in the United States either not one that is justified for the crime that he committed.
7:19 am on October 28th, 2011 64
#61 Tracy, his criminal record in Korea will not transfer to US records. It will be like it’s been wiped clean once he leaves Korea for good. On top of the more than enough preferential treatment by Korean judicial/police/prison systems, you guys still spread the word around as if Korea is some sort of Third World hell hole where the prisoners are treated horribly and unfairly. No amount of good will by the Korean people/government/judicial system who must put up with false allegations is good enough. There’s no way you can defend this anyway you slice it.
7:26 am on October 28th, 2011 65
Tom, this weekend, take a trip to the mountains and enjoy the beauty of Korea in the fall. Try to smile while you’re there. Come back a changed man.
7:32 am on October 28th, 2011 66
First, I never said Korea was a third world hell hole, all I said is that it will be worse because he does not have family over there to see him. Second, his records will follow him, your military records follow everywhere and so will this crime. Again, I agree the punishment is not harsh enough, I am not defending the crime or defending Kevin Flippin. I believe that all rapest should be sent to Petak to do their time. I never said prisoners were treated unfairly and horribly.
7:46 am on October 28th, 2011 67
“First, I never said Korea was a third world hell hole”
Where do people like Stephanie and so many others get the ideal US soldiers are getting tortured and murdered in Korean prisons, if people aren’t spreading this around? Where do they get this ideal, if not through word of mouth and your media? I’m not accusing you of spreading these words, I’m asking you why are Americans inherently susceptible to believe such BS?
7:50 am on October 28th, 2011 68
Hey, Tom just a quick question I have been wanting to visit Korea where is a good place to be able to see the country. Korea and Vietnam is on my list of places to see.
8:02 am on October 28th, 2011 69
Tom, I really have no idea, unless they are thinking about Russian prisons. To many people watch TV and then they will read the papers that are bias and hear about 1 person that something happens to and they believe it happens to everyone. The states have plenty of prisons that have beating going on in them, rape, stabbings, it is a given that things are going to happen but, people take that 1 incident and turn it into that it how it works. It is our media all you have to do is read it and it is completly one sided. Please dont put me with the Americans that believe that because I know we have a problem in this country, Look who the americans elected for President, that should be an answer all in itself.
8:03 am on October 28th, 2011 70
Tom sure seems to know a lot about Korean prisons…
8:18 am on October 28th, 2011 71
69: Its best to ignore Tom and Orbit. They are what are commonly known as trolls.
10:38 am on October 28th, 2011 72
Tracy Johnmeyer wrote:
Tom’s the wrong person to ask. He’s from China and he lives in Canada.
His sole purpose here, to which he has partly admitted, is to drive a wedge between GIs in Korea and their host country, to build public pressure (against the typical South Koreans Tom pretends he represents) to get the US to leave, and then have South Korea spin into China’s control (something he makes no secret of).
Of course, this is a major long-term goal of China, which seeks to regain hegemony in the region and to keep a tight leash on South Korea. Fortunately, China occasionally reveals reminders why that’s a bad idea, but Tom keeps hammering away.
But he is right, though, that it is typical for GIs convicted in Korean courts to get off with far less time than they’re convicted for. Tom doesn’t know this from any direct information, but from reading it in others’ blogs, including mine. And that’s why Tom looks like he’s on to something from time to time.
10:50 am on October 28th, 2011 73
I do want to make a point to those who ask what kind of sentence would you want if it were your daughter. Basically, the answer to that question is why we have judges and sometimes juries decide penalties, not the family of the victims. Certainly some punishments are too light, but we’d end up with the death penalty or life imprisonment for a whole host of non-murderous crimes.
10:54 am on October 28th, 2011 74
He just seemed to know about Korea so I thought he might know a good part to visit. It really does not matter what he is trying to do as you stated that is nothing new however, I do agree the punishment is not harsh enough for the crime committed but in my eyes the punishment would not be harsh enough here either. As I stated I think they need to be sent to Petak then they would really know what punishment was. So if any of you know a good part to visit let me know. I have studies the Vietnam and Korea war and would like to see parts of the country that have to do with what I have studies. However, he has a point on what peopleare saying from earlier in the blog about being beat into a confession, that is not happening and should have never been an issue her. We seem to forget who the victim is here and it is not Kevin.
11:06 am on October 28th, 2011 75
Well, Tracy, it depends on what time of year you’d be going, what kinds of things you like to do, what you know about Korea already and what interests you about Korea, and how many days you’ll be there.
I mean, if you are in Korea for a few weeks when it’s not winter, I’d recommend making your way to Ullǔngdo (Ulleungdo), a breathtaking island off the east coast, and taking in what’s there in between and then hitting Kyŏngju (Gyeongju) on the way back up, among other things.
But if you’re in Korea only for a few days, I’d suggest the DMZ and various trips to palaces and all-night shopping venues in Seoul, with maybe a side trip to historic Kanghwa-do (Ganghwa-do) Island.
It depends on a lot of factors. If you are in Korea during the winter, there is adequate skiing as well.
11:11 am on October 28th, 2011 76
I would kill myself trying to ski. I like history so anything with history is what I like to visit. I like to make my trips into history trips and see as much about the history of the country and stuff that has gone on in that country.
11:16 am on October 28th, 2011 77
Kushibo is deluded. He’s still clinging to his faulty theory that Tom is an agent of China.
Let’s even say Kushibo is right, I am a Chinese agent (even though I’m not). Well, can anyone still say what I said isn’t the truth about using the race card whenever there are crime charges made against USFK, the charges of non existing poor treatment of USFK prisoners, the US government/military pressure on Korean government for leniency and special treatment of USFK prisoners? Come on, let me hear your arguments instead of trying to shift the debate to something else because you don’t want to face my sting.
11:19 am on October 28th, 2011 78
Well, in that case, much of what you would want to see is in in a few places: Seoul, Kanghwa-do, which is a day trip outside of Seoul, the DMZ, which is another day trip outside of Seoul, and down in Kyŏngju, a two-hour KTX ride and worth two or three days’ time at least.
If you had more time, there are some off-the-beaten-path sorta places to see as well.
And there are some beautiful national parks, too.
11:23 am on October 28th, 2011 79
Chickenhead, Always the Master! Kevin Flippin apologized for raping a Korean girl, well ain’t that nice? If I had my way about it the relatives of the injured or killed family member would get to borrow a baseball bat or a 45 & let them take care of business. I hope the dirtbag serves the full 15 years. Tom, when US servicemembers commit crimes they are arrested, tried, & if convicted are sentenced for their crimes. When his sentence in Korean prison is finished he will be given a dishonorable military discharge which WILL follow him for the rest of his miserable life.
11:23 am on October 28th, 2011 80
Sounds good, I will have to look up the national parks and those places and see what we can come up with. It is always hard to plane a trip if you really dont know where to go to see everything. At least my husband and I both like the same things and like going for the history if the places. Thanks
11:34 am on October 28th, 2011 81
Tom (#77), you are right about certain people “playing the race card” when it comes to crimes where the accused is USFK or an English teacher.
I have said as much over and over again about Metropolitician’s, Stephannie White’s, and the Three Wise Monkeys’ take on the whole Andre Fisher case (which will likely see his release well before his two years is up). Your view is not new or unique. I’ve been making that case long before you got this assignment in exchange for having your tuition paid for by the CCP.
But few foreigners in Korea have made the case that Korean prisons treat USFK or foreign prisoners badly. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. When that is done, it is done by people from outside who, as you correctly suggest, seem to have a stereotype of “foreign prisons.” Yet they did this even with Americans in Western European countries’ prisons, such as Amanda Knox.
As for the US government, in line with SOFA agreements around the world, they insist on standards of treatment for US military personnel held abroad, especially how they are housed and fed (and the US government itself provides much of that food). This is the nature of SOFA agreements, and South Korea is doing the same with SOFA agreements as it starts to project its power (e.g., Iraq and Afghanistan).
But seeking leniency? Hardly. The only act of leniency where the US military really plays a role is when they try to have cases moved from Korean courts to US military courts, where the accused, if convicted, stands a better chance of getting and serving a longer sentence.
All you’ve got is wedges you’ve picked up on others’ blogs, and you try to drive them where they go. You’re not really interested in justice; you’re interested in the US military being out. You want that because, as you’ve stated here many times, you think South Korea rightfully belongs in the China camp where China can do a better job of being South Korea’s boss.
(Not that the US is South Korea’s current boss; South Korea would not be trading to a similar relationship, given how China sees itself and its rights of control over those countries in its sphere.)
11:37 am on October 28th, 2011 82
Another thing about Tom: the more
he produces, the more nervous and/or agitated he is about what he’s responding to.
But it doesn’t hide that he’s not the typical KoKo he makes himself out to be. His inexplicable desire to have South Korea in the China camp makes it very plausible that his purpose here is just as I said (and yes, Beijing does have its English-speaking citizens do things like that, particularly in exchange for sponsorship for travel), but even if he’s not, he’s nothing more than an out of touch person living in Canada pretending to speak for a group of people he’s not a part of.
And again:
11:53 am on October 28th, 2011 83
Ironically, Tom and Stephannie White, whose “playing the race card” views supposedly upset him so, have the same goal: the removal of the US military presence in South Korea.
12:40 pm on October 28th, 2011 84
So in other words, you agree with me for most of what I said.
So it doesn’t make any difference at all if I’m either a Chinese agitprop or not. 
All it is your ad hominem attack because you’re butt hurt by the truth I speak. 
12:49 pm on October 28th, 2011 85
Tom wrote:
No. “In other words,” you glean things from others’ comments or posts that you later structure together for the purpose of your wedge issues aimed at your ultimate goal of USFK out and PRC in, under the guise of faux outrage.
I counted eight
s in comment #84. I must have really hit a nerve.
(I see also you referenced anal assault in your comment; either you’re mimicking ChickenHead or your research into comments to make on the prison system is starting to affect your brain in ways you may not have intended.)
12:54 pm on October 28th, 2011 86
“I counted eight
s in comment #84″
Make it nine.
1:16 pm on October 28th, 2011 87
I am not sure what Tom is arguing. Does he want GIs prosecuted more harshly? If so, he should be arguing that they should be left in US military custody and pushing back against the crowd that always comes out to protest the SOFA for not handing them over quick enough. You can’t have it both ways.
Everyone should be aware that punishment in the US military justice system is usually much more severe than the Korean justice system. Maybe the Korean media should do a better job of getting that word out to its readers.
1:53 pm on October 28th, 2011 88
#87 Bull Sh*t. The USFK conviction rate is barely over 4%.
Hand them over so that they can be found not innocent from lack of evidence? 
You can put it anyway you like, but you can’t deny the US government/military has got its fingers all over Korean government/police justice system so that US soldiers who are charged are let go and given free passes left right and center. How else can you explain the US soldier in the Korea Times article who strangled a taxi driver until he was unconscious, then robbed him of his day’s pay get a no time in jail? Which Korean government official got its hands greased by which US official and how many and what type of threats did the Korean government receive from US “activists” and media who are protesting jailing of American soldiers in Korea?
2:06 pm on October 28th, 2011 89
#88
“The USFK conviction rate is barely over 4%.
Hand them over so that they can be found not innocent from lack of evidence?”
Aside from the contradiction in that comment, do you have a source for your statistic?
2:12 pm on October 28th, 2011 90
Tom, you say the US has its hand in light sentences for USFK personnel in Korean courts. But what you fail to consider is that ROK nationals and other foreigners also tend to get light sentences for stuff.
2:37 pm on October 28th, 2011 91
Leniency for criminals. And this more recent article.
The American military or civilian justice systems vs the Korean system? You choose.
3:07 pm on October 28th, 2011 92
But some changes are coming.
3:49 pm on October 28th, 2011 93
JoeC, are they also going to change the reverse discrimination toward Koreans in the justice system too?
Hotels for the Foreigner criminals.
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110227000115
3:59 pm on October 28th, 2011 94
A 24 years old Vietnamese man viciously stabbed to death his two Korean coworkers (20 and 21 years old), and seriously injured a third Korean, as they were drinking together in Eujungbu. He misunderstood what they were saying, and thought they were insulting his race. Turned out he totally misunderstood. Just sentenced to probation no jail time. Because .. get this, it was just a misunderstanding, never mind the fact that there are two young Korean men DEAD and MURDERED because of a misunderstanding???!!. Are you kidding me?
Korea’s turning into a foreigner crime friendly place where there is little to no punishment for foreign criminals. All the while, Korean foreigners are treated totally differently.
4:09 pm on October 28th, 2011 95
We are running an online petition to end the new discrimination law against Korean people in Korean people’s own country. Any Koreans who care about his country, should participate in this, and take back Korea from the multiculturalists who wants to give away Korea to foreigners who get no punishment for murders, rapes, and robberies.
http://agora.media.daum.net/petition/view.html?id=113508
4:58 pm on October 28th, 2011 96
#94
Your complaints are all over the place. Why is it everyone else’s fault that Korea is too lenient? If leniency is the issue, why not have GIs prosecuted under the harsher system?
#95
It’s a real stretch to make the case that Koreans are being discriminated against by outsiders in their own country. How far will that victim card play? Are you telling them they are just naive tools?
Several months ago, Somali pirates were captured and brought to Korea for prosecution in the death of the Korean captain. The first chance the media had to interview them, all they wanted to know was what they thought of Korea and Korean food! Everyone was gushing when hearing how much they appreciated their treatment and enjoyed the food. Hmmm? The media and people there couldn’t possibly be responsible for their fawning. It must have been some evil Somali voodoo that had them so mesmerized and manipulating them.
I hope you never work anywhere where lives depend on your reasoning ability.
5:13 pm on October 28th, 2011 97
The Chinese netizen corps is agitating on Daum… and being open about it? Wow.
Or are you pretending to be a regular KoKo back in Korea?
How odd that you would side yourself with the dinosaurs who are against 다문화, Korea’s version of “multiculturalism” (which in Korea’s case really just means being more inclusive of people from other countries), when you yourself have benefited from Canada’s openness to non-Canadians during your years of stay in Toronto.
Let’s add ‘hypocrite’ to agitator and troll.
5:52 pm on October 28th, 2011 98
USFK criminals in Korea get preferential treatment because of the government who is kowtowed by the US military. They’re not going to be re-elected after licking the boot of their US masters and the placard carrying American friends/families/supporters of these criminals, who really pull all the strings for the Korean government behind the scenes. The Korean media who tout poor poor foreign workers as perpetual victims, and bash the evil Koreans for every imagined offenses made up and exaggerated in the media, are also brainwashed, they should all be boycotted and their editors found and fired.
The movement is growing in Korea right now, to expel all these traitor elements, because people are getting tired of all this bull sh*t. All these corrupt elements in the Korean society who are too busy selling out Korea to foreigners, will be all swept out of power soon.
6:01 pm on October 28th, 2011 99
#98
If that’s true, I think it’s time to invest in however sells tinfoil in Korea.
6:04 pm on October 28th, 2011 100
Kushibo, you need the 주민등록번호 to “agitate” (as you say), and vote for the petition. I’ve already voted for this petition against this law which wants to give more preferential rights to foreigners.
For instance, did you know that all families who are “multicultural” (this even includes Joseonjoks) are given free daycare by the government, while Korean families who have just as much right to the program gets absolutely nothing? So not only foreigners have their own nice “prisons”, they get free daycare, and even free healthcare – all at the same time when Korean citizens get exactly NOTHING. Now they want to give away the farm even more, when giving them sympathy instead of justice, when they commit a crime, isn’t enough for them. We seriously need a revolution to clean house.
7:13 pm on October 28th, 2011 101
Basically Tom, you’re against the rough equivalent of an affirmative action law, used to prevent preferential treatment given to minorities as compensation for perceived legacy inequalities. You actually can comment with a 외국인등록번호 on daum agora. I’m with you on this, foreigners shouldn’t get any type of affirmative action. The anti-racial discrimination law is going to be used by 똥가방 to try to get a free ride.
7:27 pm on October 28th, 2011 102
Apparently the poster child for the prohibition of racial discrimination law is some Uzbek Chick that they wouldn’t let go into a public bath because her skin color was different.
8:42 am on October 31st, 2011 103
Hahahahaha!! Oh the comments, the comments, they make me laugh.^^
Humanity!
WAKE UP!
What is, is exactly what is. And ‘what is’ can be changed. Some people want the change, while others don’t, all for a valid reason.
But when will we realize that ‘what is’ is exactly what it should’ve been for all events leading to the ‘what is’ were perfectly orchestrated which led to the realization/actualization of a possibility.
Now, what’s the bottom line?
A US Soldier raped a Korean civilian. He was accused, caught and is now facing a 15 year sentence.
That’s it.
What do you make of it? Do you want to change how things are? Yes? GO ON and do something smart which will get your message across. No? Go on and do whatever you were doing before you spent time reading this comment and all the others.
10:15 am on October 31st, 2011 104
I have a honest question to ask. I’m being serious. How do American soldiers behave in the States, in large cities with big military bases. I want to know if this problem is just particular to Korea, or this is a wider issue.
It looks like another smash up with a tax driver, and this time, also with the Korean police who were assaulted by drunk GI’s.
미군 관련 범죄가 잇따르면서 한미주둔군지위협정, 이른바 소파(SOFA) 개정 요구가 높은 가운데 술에 취한 미군들이 출동한 경찰까지 폭행하는 일이 발생했다.
서울 용산경찰서는 술에 취해 택시기사와 경찰 등 4명을 폭행한 혐의로 주한 미 8군 소속 여군 F(21)씨 등 병사 4명에 대해 조사중이다.
F씨 등은 지난 30일 새벽 1시쯤 서울 용산구 이태원동 이태원역 인근에서 택시기사 안 모(40)씨에게 욕을 하고 이를 말리던 동료 기사 김 모(45)씨와 출동한 경찰 등 4명을 폭행한 혐의를 받고 있다.
F씨 일행은 술을 마시고 의정부 부대로 복귀하기 위해 택시를 잡아 탔다. F씨는 택시기사 안 씨와 가격 흥정을 했지만 실패하자 홧김에 욕을 하고 밀어붙였다. 함께 있던 동료 미군 S씨 등 3명도 싸움을 말리러 온 동료 기사 김 씨를 때렸다.
미군 4명의 행패는 여기서 그치지 않고 싸움을 말리기 위해 출동한 우리 경찰 2명 가운데 이 모(40)경장을 밀쳐내며 위력을 행사하기까지 했다.
경찰은 F씨 등의 폭행정도가 경미해 일단 이들을 돌려 보냈으며 소파(SOFA) 규정에 따라 처리할 방침이다. 소파(SOFA) 규정 상 경찰 단계에서는 현행범 체포 상황이 아니면 미군 피의자의 신병을 확보할 수 없으며, 검찰에 송치된 뒤 기소 단계에서 영장을 청구할 수 있다.
이에 앞서 지난 11일에는 강남의 한 카지노에서 한국계 미군 김 모(28) 상병이 난동을 부린 사건이 있었다.
김 상병은 카지노 측이 출입을 제한하자 카지노 앞 현관에 드러누워 업무를 방해하고 현장에 출동한 경찰관을 발로 차는 등 공무집행을 방해했다.
이보다 앞서서는 경기도 동두천과 서울 마포에서 여학생들이 미군들에 의해 성폭행당하는 사건이 발생한 바 있다.
지난 6일 미군 제 2사단 소속 K(21) 이병이 경기 동두천 시내 한 고시텔에 들어가 텔레비전을 보던 10대 여학생을 성폭행한 혐의로 구속 기소돼 징역 15년을 구형받았다. K 이병에 대한 선고는 11월 1일 의정부지방법원에서 열린다.
지난 7일에는 미8군 제1통신여단 R(21)이병이 여고생이 혼자 사는 고시텔에 들어가 성폭행하고 노트북을 훔친 혐의로 불구속 입건된 바 있다.
이같은 크고 작은 미군 범죄 사건으로 인해 시민단체 등은 소파(SOFA) 개정의 목소리를 높이고 있다.
http://news.nate.com/view/20111031n14340?mid=n0402
3:03 am on November 1st, 2011 105
Well, the apology, no doubt made to avoid a long sentence, helped, it got him 10 years instead of 15. But what’s with that picture? was he already decapitated before sentencing?
Anyway, what will likely happen is that he’ll be allowed to serve his punishment in the US. He’ll be slapped on the wrist for getting cought, get a dishonourable discharge and will be set loose.
After all, he only raped a gook in a country the US practically considers its own
3:18 am on November 1st, 2011 106
#105
Huh?
“Anyway, what will likely happen is that he’ll be allowed to serve his punishment in the US. He’ll be slapped on the wrist for getting cought, get a dishonourable discharge and will be set loose.”>/i>
Where did you ever get that idea?
3:24 am on November 1st, 2011 107
104. Yes, there are certainly discipline problems among the military population (or ANY population, for that matter) in the US as well. Crime rates of military personnel are generally lower than the civilian population.
105. Absurd. Please provide one case where this has occurred before.
4:02 am on November 1st, 2011 108
Troll or no troll, Tom actually has a point. I mean, take a look at these two pieces in NoCut News — they hardly managed six sentences about the sentencing of the Vietnamese guy who butchered his two coworkers (I couldn’t even find a story by them on the original killing and arrests in August), but on the same day, they write a much longer piece about two jackass Vietnamese illegal immigrants who died falling from a motel window hiding from police trying to arrest them for illegal gambling:
http://www.nocutnews.co.kr/Show.asp?IDX=1959292
http://www.nocutnews.co.kr/Show.asp?IDX=1959380
WTF?
5:50 am on November 1st, 2011 109
This goes out to ignorant Tom who commented on 21 OCT 2011.
Tom, this “kid” is 20 years old. He went thru inprocessing with the Army. He knows that rape is not taken lightly in S. Korea. Kevin Flippin got off too easy. He needs to be castrated and then branded on his forehead ‘rapist’ and still finish all his 20 years behind bars. Rape is not an accident. And to think it was is an uneducated mentallity. The Army conducts briefings with all military personell when they inprocess in Korea one of the topics that is on the high priority list is the topic of sexual assault-stressing the fact that rape is a severly punishable offense in Korea. This “kid” knew better.
6:30 am on November 1st, 2011 110
I honestly hope this scumbag get raped in jail and beaten to death like he deserves.
8:07 am on November 1st, 2011 111
15 years does not sound like enough to me. He was lucky I was not doing the sentencing.
9:13 am on November 1st, 2011 112
it’s just now reduced to 10 years. lol
9:18 am on November 1st, 2011 113
I honestly hope this scumbag get raped in jail and beaten to death like he deserves.
There’s about 0% chance of that happening in (Cheonan) Korean (foreigner) prison.
2:08 pm on November 1st, 2011 114
It made “The Drudge Report” today. Interesting.
7:02 pm on November 1st, 2011 115
@112
It’ll get reduced further in another year once the news story blows over.
Need I mention that ar$e raping a 9yo girl then destroying her lower intestines and leaving her to die only gets you 12? Or that raping a gang raping a disabled girl every day only gets you 3 suspended, ohh and you get your rape toy back to play with. Or that raping a white girl gets the case dismissed cause she didn’t put up enough of a fight?
8:57 am on November 2nd, 2011 116
Tom,
Being drunk is NO excuse. I have been very very drunk before but I still knew that rape,getting in fights with police getting in fights with fellow soldiers etc. were all bad ideas and never even crossed my mind as an option DRUNK or SOBER. I honestly don’t know how being drunk is an excuse for any bad decision for anybody. I believe it is only a way for the offender to somehow feel they are not COMPLETELY responcible for their BAD decision by saying they were drunk. Flippin is not a 20 year old “kid”, he is a full grown adult who should have known better and we don’t “need” his kind anywhere. The physical and mental damage he caused this girl are permanent so I feel no remorse for him. His punishment should have been more.
11:15 am on November 2nd, 2011 117
Totally oftopic:
I stubled on this forum after reading about Kevin Flippin on NYT.com
Just wanted to complement contributers for maintaining an engages, civil and witty dialogue for over a 100 posts. Quite a rare achievement on forums
2:59 pm on November 2nd, 2011 118
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-Flippin/12002484
i think this is his facebook
3:49 pm on November 2nd, 2011 119
You have the wrong guy. Apparently many others have too. His status says:
For those who are trolling facebook looking for somebody to share their ignorant thoughts with, know that I’m not in the army and don’t live in korea. Take your ignorance elsewhere.
4:18 pm on November 2nd, 2011 120
117. Mark: Not everyone here agrees with your analysis however I thank you.
11:21 pm on November 2nd, 2011 121
Men think about sex at least 15 times daily twice as many as women. Men can get drunk but that is no excuse for raping an UNDERAGE girl.
The point I’m making is this soldier raped an underage girl.
This offense in the States and Europe is punishable by life in prison.
I believe and others in Korea and I’m sure in many different countries feel this sentence to be a slap on the wrist.
Whether this Private was a sweet kid who have never had any prior criminal record is irrelevant. He raped an UNDERAGE girl.
Now, I believe South Korean judiciarys branch is really screwed up. Human rights does not apply to a criminal. This US Army private should have been sentenced to life in prison and handed over to the US Army Leavenworth because I as taxpayer in ROK do not want to foot the comfy life of Cheonan Prison.
What gets me is this Army Private is getting the best possible advice from some lawyer – covering up his face, offering monetary compensation.
Korean system must change.
And to those two American ladies (commenters here) who claim to know that rapist.
HE RAPED UNDERAGE GIRL.
I’m kind of struck by how ignorant one of the lady is despite her 3 masters degree educational back ground thinks American judicial system is the only just system in the world? And she thinks any American lawyer can defend an American in a foreign court of law.
Those ladies are either really stupid ignoramus or some lady wannabe guy.
In any case, South Korea is not the country you seen in stupid American TV Drama Mash.
The rapist received a fair trial and he even got a lenient sentencing.
I just can’t stand the Korean judge for handing out such sentence.
12:18 am on November 3rd, 2011 122
Okay, so this single post has gotten a total of 121 comments from all sorts of people in the Internet world.
Why are we all so interested about this?
We’re giving too much attention to a think that is already SET in STONE as in Kevin getting 10 years from the previously sentence of 15. We all knew that was gonna happen.
Why is the Korean judiciary so lenient to the GIs who fu*k up?
I don’t really know.
Maybe it’s cus the States has two hands ready to choke ROK if she doesn’t do what they want her to do, or maybe it’s cus Koreans still think America/Americans is/are somehow superior cus they speak english, or maybe cus ROK military is too dependent on the US military and thinks it should do them a favour. Whatever it is, it’s here and it’s working. But….why are we so interested????
WHY???
What’s it gotta do with us??
Good people, the emails are just FLOODING in cus you keep commenting here. And I can’t even DELETE my previous post where I ‘checked’ the “Notify me of followup comments” thing.
CHILL.
CHILL….
Breathe….
Breeeeeeeathe….
12:49 am on November 3rd, 2011 123
I’m breathing… I’m interested because some guy raped an underage girl and gets only ten years. This sh*t is happening all the time here in my country and I am PISSED ! And to make a matter worst, it gets shown in the broad day light to foreigners how ludicrous S Korean judicial decisions are in handing out such lenient sentences…embarrasing..
11:32 pm on November 3rd, 2011 124
This animal should be raped and his testicles burned… THAT IS REAL JUSTICE.
10:31 pm on November 17th, 2011 125
Why AM I not surprised upon reading the comments above that white American Males accuse anyone antagonizing American as Chinese, this is going on on almost every internet forums
American always drag china into every topic about korean when the perpetrator is American…why is it?
why don’t you leave china alone and take responsibility of your own action? AMERIKKKANS?!
10:40 pm on November 17th, 2011 126
125. How you doing, new stronger ally against Chinese expansionism in the Southern Pacific? The Marines are on the way!
/as far as the Chinese agitprop comments directed at the likes of Tom, you would have had to be reading this blog for a while to understand.
//now make me a vegemite sammich!
8:11 pm on November 21st, 2011 127
How can you people feel sorry for this guy and say he deserves a lesser punishment? HE ADMITTED TO BRUTALLY RAPING A YOUNG GIRL. Doesn’t matter that he was intoxicated. He deserves to be in prison for a long time!!!!!!
8:36 pm on November 21st, 2011 128
I don’t get it either Ace, it seems American women have grown ignorant and obtuse, as well as obese.
9:44 pm on November 21st, 2011 129
#127:
“But he’s REALLY a sweet guy”
- A girl referring to a guy who stabbed a bouncer to death behind a bar in my hometown. He did 20 years.
#128
Yeah- and they’re a major voting block. Kinda explains a lot.
9:26 am on November 23rd, 2011 130
Anyone wonder what the *punishment* for a few blows to his kneees, elbows and head with a sturdy baseball bat would be in the Korean system?
Anyone?
Tom?
That rapist should have been tied to a 25 meter target in front of a squad of LTs with full clips in their 9 MM at a practice range.
That would give him a 50/50 chance, no?
a decade in one of those “Education” camps in the boonies under Chun Doo Won & Co where the camp cadre beet the piss outta you daily low crawling up a hill is not enough…
Yet, that is only my opinion of justice and not everyones’ opinion.
As for a historical perspective, even 20 yrs ago, it was VERY difficult for a woman to sucessfully approach the police to report and pursue/jail the perpetrator of a rape.
10:36 am on November 23rd, 2011 131
Though I do feel his sentence is to light I also feel we need to differentiate between “justice” and “revenge”.
10:58 am on November 23rd, 2011 132
#130: A lot of us newfangled LTs are prior service… so maybe 60/40 now…
11:00 am on November 23rd, 2011 133
Oh right, Korean justice. Damn.
8:00 pm on January 10th, 2012 134
It kinda pisses me off to see someone say he’s a low life scumbag without even knowing kevin. I know no one will give a shit what i say, but I knew Kevin, and honestly, this just doesn’t seem like him. hey, maybe he did do it, but truthfully I don’t quite see it as a true act of just being a low life scumbag. I dunno, I just can’t believe this all happened, and guys, just think before you say shit. if one of your family members or friends got convicted of something like this, you’d be more hesitant to say such thoughtless stuff. Of course, the fact that people care about him and get upset when people say crap about him cuz of what he did, that doesn’t justify his actions at all. But still, we all screw up, and we all learn from mistakes. Who’s to say you wouldn’t do the same thing in that situation? Do you remember the last time you were in a foreign country with a status of power and intoxicated, thus having your mental abilities hindered and not being able to differentiate between what the hell is and isn’t going on, not being able to think straight at all? No?… It’s not our actions while inebriated that define who we are as a person. It’s our reactions later on, in our right state of mind, and whether or not we’re able to fess up and willfully accept our consequences that define our greater character.
9:20 pm on January 10th, 2012 135
Anonymous makes some good points.
“but truthfully I don’t quite see it as a true act of just being a low life scumbag.”
I agree completely.
There are just too many judgmental haters here who think raape, torture, and robbery of high school girls is some kind of indicator of being a scumbag or something.
I, too, don’t see it that way at all.
I think he should be congratulated for not wiping a booger on her face or taking a crap on her teddy bear collection.
“But still, we all screw up, and we all learn from mistakes.”
Man-oh-man, is that ever true…
I have screwed up big-time… and I have learned from my mistakes.
No matter how much I drink, I will never again tell a girl those pants make her azz look wide.
Where do I sign the Flippin Out Now petition?
5:15 pm on January 22nd, 2012 136
I hope he rots in hell.
He’s a disgrace to the uniform and a disgrace to the USA. I’m appalled that people here are actually defending this monster. Rape is rape. You should not be allowed a free pass for this horrible crime. PERIOD.
1:53 am on January 23rd, 2012 137
#130- Every time someone calls a magazine a “clip”, a kitten dies.
Save the kitties!
2:23 am on January 23rd, 2012 138
“Every time someone calls a magazine a “clip”, a kitten dies.”
Do TWO kittens die if I read Playboy Clip?
8:18 am on January 23rd, 2012 139
Death to the flippin fokker!!!!!