In the ongoing controversy surrounding the inadequate investigation of the Jang Yoon-ki case, a police officer who was indicted has failed to appear as a witness at a National Assembly hearing.
According to Yonhap News, Park Mo (57), the head of the violent crimes unit at the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, was selected as a witness for the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee audit of the Gwangju and Jeonnam Police Agency on October 22. However, he submitted a notice of absence citing ongoing court proceedings.
Kim Young-jin, a member of the Democratic Party and chair of the committee, stated that follow-up actions regarding Park will be discussed later. The committee intended to question Park about the decision to charge Jang Yoon-ki (23), the perpetrator of a high school girl's murder, with general murder rather than the more severe charge of rape-murder.
Park is currently facing trial for allegedly failing to seize key evidence, including a damaged sex doll, during the investigation of the Jang Yoon-ki case. He is also accused of leaking information about the investigation to Jang's father, who is a serving police officer. Additionally, during the prosecution's supplementary investigation, it was revealed that he instructed a subordinate to delete footage related to cable ties found in Jang's vehicle.
On the same day as the National Assembly audit, various protests took place outside the Gwangju City Hall, addressing multiple issues. Participants raised their voices demanding an end to union suppression and a reevaluation of the National Medical University.
As the controversy over the inadequate investigation of the Jang Yoon-ki case continues, calls for a re-investigation of the so-called 'Gwangju Dating Violence Case No. 1' have also emerged. The parties involved in that case claim that police coerced confessions and ignored requests to review CCTV footage, urging for a re-investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Meanwhile, the Administrative Safety Committee conducted its audit of the Gwangju Metropolitan City in the morning and proceeded to question the Gwangju and Jeonnam Police Agency in the afternoon.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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