Jang Yoon-gi's Father, an Active-duty Police Officer, Disposed of Evidence in High School Girl Murder Case

Sex Doll and Mobile Phones Also Disposed of

Father Avoids Prosecution Due to Family Exemption Rule

While Jang Yoon-gi (23), who brutally murdered a high school girl he had never met on a street in downtown Gwangju, was under detention and investigation, it was revealed that his father—an active-duty police officer—had secretly disposed of crucial evidence that could support the charge of murder with the intent of committing a sex crime.

Jang Yoonki (23), who is charged with murder and attempted murder, is standing on the photo line before being transferred from the Gwangju Seobu Police Station to the prosecution. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office and other sources on July 2, during the trial of Jang Yoon-gi, who has been indicted and detained for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (murder in connection with rape, etc.), it was confirmed that adult items (a sex doll) and old mobile phones from his residence were disposed of in the early stages of the investigation.

The person who destroyed the evidence was Jang's biological father, an active-duty mid-level police officer. On May 8, just after Jang was detained, his father dismantled the sex doll—which had its chest and neck areas severely damaged with a knife—into several pieces and discarded them at multiple locations while cleaning out his son's one-room apartment.

This sex doll was considered key evidence indicating psychological abnormalities, which prosecutors used to justify their view that Jang's motive for murder was sexual in nature. During the police investigation, the actual item was not seized because forensic reports and video recordings were available, and his father disposed of it voluntarily.

In addition, the father burned and incinerated several feature phones (basic mobile phones) that Jang had used in middle and high school, along with other waste, at a temporary rural residence in South Jeolla Province. The black box memory card hidden inside the SUV used in the crime was only discovered later during a supplementary search and seizure by the prosecution.

Prosecutors were fully aware of the concealment by Jang's father, who is a serving police officer, but could not press criminal charges due to legal limitations. Under current law, family members or cohabiting relatives who destroy evidence on behalf of the accused are exempt from punishment. Jang's father is reportedly on leave following the incident.

Regarding this, Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho stated on his social media account the previous day, "We uncovered evidence that was not seized during the police investigation in the course of the prosecution's supplementary investigation, which helped clarify the sexual motive for the crime." He added, "It is a difficult reality that even though the father, an active-duty police officer, destroyed important evidence, it is not easy to punish him immediately. There is a need to review whether the special exemption for family members should be amended."

Meanwhile, on May 5 at around 12:10 a.m., Jang Yoon-gi was indicted for stabbing and killing Lee Chae-won (16), a high school girl returning home in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, after attempting to kidnap her for sexual assault, and for the attempted murder of another high school student, Go (17), who rushed to help after hearing her screams. He also faces charges of illegally detaining and sexually assaulting a female coworker in her 20s, as well as illegally filming children and adolescents.

In his recent first trial, Jang admitted to other charges but took a reserved stance and denied the charge of murder with intent to commit rape.

Jang Yoon-gi's next trial is scheduled for July 13 at the Gwangju District Court.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.