On July 11, political tensions escalated over the investigation of Jang Yoon-ki, a suspect in the 'Gwangju high school girl murder case.' Allegations of collusion between Jang, a current police officer, and the investigation team prompted the Democratic Party to criticize the inadequacy of law enforcement and call for a thorough reinvestigation. In contrast, the People Power Party highlighted that the truth of the case was revealed through supplementary investigations by the prosecution, pushing back against the ruling party's efforts to abolish supplementary investigative powers.
The Democratic Party characterized the situation as a case of law enforcement protecting its own and intensified its criticism of the police. According to a statement from spokesperson Park Kyung-mi, "If the hands of law enforcement, which should be pursuing the criminal, act as a shield for the perpetrator, it is not just an inadequate investigation but a collusion masquerading as an investigation. We strongly demand a comprehensive reinvestigation utilizing all investigative resources. Only a thorough reinvestigation without any sacred cows can provide answers."
Park also emphasized the need to punish those responsible for covering up the case, stating, "All individuals involved in the destruction and omission of evidence must be brought back into the investigation. We must uncover the substantial truth hidden behind the massive veil of concealment without any doubt."
Criticism was also directed at the police's proposed internal reform measures in response to the situation. Park noted, "As public outrage surged, the police announced plans for a reform task force and the establishment of an internal corruption investigation unit. What the public demands is not superficial measures for show, but fundamental reforms that require painful sacrifices."
Furthermore, she asserted, "The Democratic Party will closely monitor the reinvestigation process to ensure it proceeds without any discrepancies from the public's expectations, and we will stand with the people until those who attempted to cover up the truth face consequences."
Pressure was also applied to the opposition party, which has been boycotting parliamentary schedules. Floor spokesperson Lee Joo-hee pointedly remarked, "If there are concerns about the bill to abolish supplementary investigative powers, it is the duty of lawmakers to discuss them during the parliamentary review process."
The People Power Party emphasized that the background to the revelation of the case's truth was the 'supplementary investigation' by the prosecution, directly countering the ruling party's push for changes to investigative powers.
Senior spokesperson Park Sung-hoon issued a statement saying, "It was only through the supplementary investigation by the prosecution that the horrific details of the attempted rape and murder, which the police had nearly overlooked, were uncovered. This serves as a painful lesson demonstrating why supplementary investigations are absolutely necessary."
Park also criticized YouTuber Kim Eo-jun for stating on his channel that "such incidents occur several times a year," asserting, "Kim and Democratic Party figures are attempting to obscure the essence of the case under the guise of public opinion manipulation and a return to prosecutorial power."
Floor spokesperson Choi Eun-seok also emphasized the role of the prosecution in a separate statement, noting, "If it were not for the supplementary investigation by the prosecution, many incidents would remain undisclosed. Abolishing supplementary investigative powers would eliminate another opportunity to protect victims."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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