Four U.S. soldiers were arrested in Seoul, South Korea, on June 8, 2026, and were handed over to U.S. military police. (Griffin Payne/U.S. Army)
South Korean police arrested four U.S. Army soldiers this week on allegations they assaulted local civilians during a confrontation in Seoul’s Itaewon nightlife district.
The soldiers were taken into custody around 2:25 a.m. Monday and later turned over to U.S. military police under the status of forces agreement, Camp Casey Military Police Sgt. Josue Irizarry said by phone Tuesday.
He identified the soldiers as a private first class, two specialists and a sergeant assigned to Camp Casey, about 40 miles north of Seoul.
The military police booked the soldiers on assault allegations, Irizarry said.
South Korean broadcaster KBS reported Monday that the soldiers had been drinking. The report alleged they verbally harassed local women before a fight broke out, although it did not identify the source of that information.
The Chosun Daily, citing Yongsan police, reported Monday that the soldiers approached two women and asked them to spend time together. After the women declined, two Korean men accompanying the women intervened, leading to a physical confrontation.
Two more Korean men who attempted to break up the fight were also assaulted and later taken to a hospital, the report said.
The two Korean men who accompanied the women were also arrested on assault allegations, Chosun reported.
Eighth Army is aware of the allegations and is cooperating with South Korean authorities, U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Choi Jung-won said by email Tuesday.
He said the command takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and is cooperating with the joint investigation led by the Korean national police and military police.
Choi declined to provide additional details while the investigation remains ongoing.
