Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at Gwangsan Police Station Over 'Jang Yunki Case Mishandling and Collusion Allegations'

Investigation Team Booked for Official Secrets Leakage and More

The prosecution, which is investigating both the poor initial police investigation and alleged collusion in the 'Gwangju high school girl murder case' involving Jang Yunki (23), has launched a direct, compulsory investigation by conducting a search and seizure at the relevant police station.

On the morning of July 7, the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office deployed a dedicated investigation team of 20 members, including four prosecutors and 15 investigators led by the head of the criminal division, to conduct searches at four locations: the Criminal Division and the Women and Juvenile Crime Investigation Division offices of Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, as well as the home of Inspector A, who led the investigation team at the time.

On the morning of the 7th, Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office investigators conducted a search and seizure at Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangsan District, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeonnam. Photo by Yonhap News

Through this search and seizure, the prosecution booked multiple police officers involved with the Jang Yunki case investigation team on criminal charges, including disclosure of official secrets, destruction of evidence, and aiding and abetting the destruction of evidence.

The police officers who were booked are accused of failing to seize and omitting the cable ties, which were used as restraints in the crime vehicle (SUV), after the emergency arrest of Jang Yunki on May 5 and before handing the case over to the prosecution. They are also accused of leaking investigation details, including the contents of the arrest warrant, in real time to Jang Yunki's father, who is a serving mid-ranking police officer.

Inspector Jang, the father, used this information to personally dispose of a 'damaged sex doll'—evidence of a sexual crime motive—from his son's rented room and to incinerate old mobile phones. However, controversy arose because, under the Criminal Act, he was not subject to criminal punishment due to special provisions for family members.

During the search and seizure, prosecutors also uncovered additional decisive evidence that Inspector A, the head of the investigation team, deliberately destroyed evidence to cover up the allegations of a poor investigation.

It is believed that Inspector A, earlier this month, directly ordered a subordinate detective to delete video footage clearly showing the cable ties used as restraints during the vehicle search. Reportedly, the footage had been saved on the detective's personal mobile phone.

In addition, the prosecution is thoroughly investigating how the built-in black box storage device in Jang Yunki's SUV was entirely omitted in the early stages of the investigation. They are also examining whether there was any interference by the Women and Juvenile Division, which handled the investigation into Jang Yunki's sexual assault on a foreign female colleague just before the murder.

Meanwhile, on the morning of July 7, the police, who had urgently arrested Inspector A one day ahead of the prosecution, applied for an arrest warrant for him, considering the 48-hour detention deadline. The police plan to elevate the investigation to a special investigation team (27 members) under the direct control of the National Office of Investigation and rapidly dispatch investigators to Gwangju to reach their own conclusion.

Under the current Criminal Procedure Act, both the prosecution and the police can independently conduct compulsory investigations into on-duty misconduct by active police officers.

Regarding this, a prosecution official stated, "Since Jang Yunki has already been indicted, it was inevitable for the prosecution to conduct a direct investigation in order to quickly secure evidence to prove the sexual crime motive in court."

Jang Yunki is currently on trial after being indicted and detained on charges including attempting to kidnap and murdering Lee Chaewon (17), a high school girl who was on her way home in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan District, Gwangju, on May 5 for sexual assault purposes.

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