Special Investigation Team Resubmits Arrest Warrant for Chief Investigator in 'Jang Yunki Case'

Police Seek to Detain Suspect Again Just One Week After Arrest Warrant Rejection

The police investigating allegations of insufficient investigation in the Jang Yoon-ki case have again moved to secure the custody of the head of the criminal investigation division who was responsible for the case. The division chief had recently released sections of the investigation report showing that, when Jang Yoon-ki was referred on murder charges, the police did not rule out suspicions of rape and murder.

On July 28, the Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency announced that it had resubmitted a request for an arrest warrant for Superintendent Park, the former head of the criminal investigation division at Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, on charges of abuse of authority and dereliction of duty, after supplementing statements and evidence from relevant parties. The Special Investigation Unit had previously sought an arrest warrant, but the Gwangju District Court dismissed the request on July 21.

Gwangsan Police Station, Gwangju. Yonhap News Agency

A representative from the Special Investigation Unit stated, "Today (the 28th), the investigating team member in charge will also be questioned as a suspect." Sergeant Kim, who allegedly leaked investigation information about Jang Yoon-ki to his father, has been booked on charges of official secrets disclosure.

The Special Investigation Unit is working to clarify why items such as cable ties used in the crime were not collected as evidence during the initial investigation, the circumstances of the deletion of recorded materials, and suspicions of investigation information leaks. Inspector Park, who was the chief of the violent crimes team at the time, has been detained and handed over to prosecution on charges of destroying key evidence. The core question is whether the station chief and other senior officials exercised undue influence over the chain of command and attempted to systematically conceal the case.

Superintendent Park recently disclosed details from an investigation report submitted to the prosecution. The report stated, "Since it would be difficult to fully establish the rape and murder charge within the ten-day detention period, the case is being referred first on murder charges." Instead, five pieces of evidence were specifically cited, including the mutilation of a sex doll and rape of a migrant woman. This suggests that the police did not deliberately exclude the rape and murder charge.

In response, the National Police Association, which serves as a police labor union, demanded that the prosecution clarify its position during a demonstration in front of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office the previous day. The association stated, "The investigation team pointed out that, while a crime with sexual motives is suspected, the ten-day detention period makes it difficult to secure direct evidence, and additional prosecution investigation is necessary." They emphasized, "In particular, a legal review determined that the minimum sentence for rape and murder is life imprisonment, which is heavier than that of simple murder charges."

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