Jang Dong-hyuk, a representative of the People Power Party, visited the Gwangju Police Agency on July 9 to request a meeting with Chief Kim Young-geun regarding the Jang Yoon-ki case, in which a Gwangju high school student was murdered. However, the meeting did not take place.
Jang, along with lawmakers Kim Jang-gyeom, Park Jun-tae, Seo Cheon-ho, and Shin Dong-wook, arrived at the police agency in the afternoon but faced a standoff with police as access to the building was restricted. Jang canceled a previously scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Han Seung-soo to visit Gwangju.
Speaking to reporters in the lobby, Jang stated, "This incident has sparked national outrage on its own, yet the police are under suspicion of destroying evidence and attempting to downplay and conceal the case. I came to confirm the circumstances of the incident and measures to prevent its recurrence, but I received no explanation at all."
He added, "This is a clear display of the police's true nature. In such a situation, it is only natural for the public to be concerned about entrusting all investigative powers to the police."
Lawmaker Seo Cheon-ho also expressed frustration, saying, "As representatives of the people, we came to confirm the circumstances of the case, yet we are not even allowed inside the building. How is this different from the allegations of evidence destruction raised during the investigation?"
Lawmaker Kim Jang-gyeom remarked, "This is why the police are criticized as the regime's lapdogs. Did the chief flee upon hearing we were coming?"
The Gwangju Police Agency stated that the visit was unannounced and that Chief Kim was reportedly away for on-site inspections in preparation for summer heavy rains.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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