SEOUL — South Korean authorities are investigating whether a U.S. soldier hit a woman on New Year’s Eve, police officials said.

The soldier, identified only as a 30-year-old private first class, is accused of slapping a 27-year-old woman working in an off-base club near Camp Casey. South Korean authorities said the incident occurred at 11 p.m. Dec. 31.

Tongduchon police arrested the soldier, who refused to speak without U.S. representatives present, a police spokesman said. The solider was released to U.S. military police on Jan 1.

Detective Lee Chil-yong of Uijongbu’s police station said he believes questioning will be finished sometime this week.

Maj. Brian Maka, 2nd Infantry Division spokesman, confirmed a U.S. soldier is being investigated in connection with the incident. Maka said witnesses did not see the soldier slap the woman, only the woman striking the soldier.

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