Jang Yoon-gi's Father Destroyed 'Key Evidence'... Police Launch Comprehensive Review of Family-Related Cases

117 Cases Identified Through Comprehensive Review
44 Cases Transferred to Other Agencies

The police have launched a comprehensive review of cases involving the families of police officers and have transferred some cases to other investigative agencies to ensure fairness. This action follows an incident in which the father of Jang Yoon-gi—the current police officer involved in the murder of a high school girl—destroyed evidence related to the crime.

According to the National Police Agency's announcement on July 28, this full-scale review of police officers' family-related cases was conducted as part of broader efforts to eradicate internal corruption. The investigation focused on cases in which the spouse or direct relatives of officers working at agencies conducting criminal investigations—including preliminary investigations before formal charges—were identified as parties of interest. The scope also included officers who had worked at the relevant agencies within the past three years, even if they were no longer assigned there.

Seoul Seodaemun-gu, National Police Agency Criminal Investigation Headquarters. Yonhap News Agency

The review identified a total of 117 cases involving the family members of police officers. Of these, 44 cases were transferred to provincial police agencies or different police stations to improve fairness. For the remaining cases that were not transferred, the National Police Agency will re-examine the appropriateness of the investigations on a monthly basis and manage them accordingly.

The impetus for this exhaustive review stems from public controversy after it was revealed that Jang Yoon-gi's father, who had no personal connection to the high school girl he murdered in Gwangju, concealed key evidence—including a damaged sex doll crucial for determining the motive of the crime—but was not criminally charged due to special legal protections for family members. In a recent case, a police officer from the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency is also under investigation for destroying his high school son's mobile phone to eliminate evidence after the son was charged with illegal filming using cameras and similar devices.

A representative of the National Police Agency stated, "For cases that require investigation or internal affairs review—such as the Jeonbuk case—we have established the principle that the relevant provincial police agency will be responsible for the matter." The spokesperson added, "Based on the results of this comprehensive review, we will develop operational measures for ongoing management of police officers' family-related cases and strengthen internal systems to prevent conflicts of interest within the police force."

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