As allegations of evidence tampering by police in the Gwangju high school girl murder case involving 23-year-old Jang Yoon-ki continue to grow, calls for the necessity of supplementary investigation rights for the prosecution are increasing online. Notably, even progressive online communities, typically supportive of prosecution reform, are expressing the sentiment that "the prosecution and police must check each other."
Recently, it has been reported that the prosecution has secured evidence indicating that the head of the investigation team and Jang Yoon-ki's father, a current police official in Gwangju, had multiple phone conversations shortly after the incident.
Details of the calls reportedly include Jang Yoon-ki's father asking the investigation team leader, "Is the place where Jang Yoon-ki discarded his mobile phone under the Yeongsan River Chamdang Bridge?" and requesting, "Please let me speak to Jang Yoon-ki."
In subsequent calls with Jang Yoon-ki, there were confirmations regarding the location of the phone disposal, with statements like, "Is it the Chamdang Bridge?" and "Make sure to listen carefully to what they say."
The prosecution plans to investigate whether Jang Yoon-ki's father moved to the Chamdang Bridge after speaking with the investigation team leader to collect and dispose of Jang Yoon-ki's mobile phone. It has been reported that during a witness interrogation in May, Jang Yoon-ki's father stated, "I did not go to the Chamdang Bridge at that time."
The mobile phone actually used by Jang Yoon-ki is considered a key piece of evidence to prove the sexual crime, but its whereabouts remain unknown. The phone seized by police at the time of arrest was an old device, and no usable mobile phone was found during underwater searches in the Yeongsan River.
Additionally, it has come to light that Jang Yoon-ki's uncle is also a former police official, further intensifying the controversy surrounding the police organization.
As this information has emerged, debates surrounding the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights and the complete removal of prosecution investigation rights (known as "geonsuwanbak") have reignited online.
One netizen argued, "With the potential abolition of supplementary investigation rights following the complete removal of prosecution rights, it is clear that without the prosecution, such facts would not have been uncovered."
Another user commented, "Our country still needs the prosecution," and questioned, "Who will check the police?" They also noted past controversies involving the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, stating, "Why did we even pursue the complete removal of prosecution rights?"
Particularly in progressive online communities, criticism of the complete removal of prosecution rights has surged. Users in these communities have expressed views such as, "This case shows how dangerous the idea of completely removing prosecution rights is," and emphasized that "the prosecution and police should have a system of checks on each other," and that "power should be decentralized." They warned that concentrating power in the police ultimately harms ordinary citizens and insisted that "supplementary investigation rights must not be abolished," adding, "This incident illustrates the necessity of the prosecution's oversight function," and criticized the police's capabilities, stating, "The police's level is serious," and urged that "the needs of the people should come before political interests."
Earlier, SBS reported that Jang Yoon-ki's father, a current police official in Gwangju, was found to have cut up and disposed of key evidence, including a real doll intended for sexual crime, and incinerated several old mobile phones used by Jang Yoon-ki.
The prosecution is conducting supplementary investigations based on video footage captured by police during the search and DNA evidence obtained from the real doll, which led to the charges of rape and murder against Jang Yoon-ki.
Jeong Seong-ho, the Minister of Justice, stated, "The supplementary investigation by the prosecution has clarified the sexual crime intent," and mentioned that he would review whether improvements are needed regarding the special provisions on family evidence destruction.
Current Article 155, Section 4 of the Criminal Code stipulates that family members or cohabiting relatives who destroy evidence for the sake of their family are not subject to punishment under the family evidence destruction exception, raising concerns that Jang Yoon-ki's father may not face criminal charges.
Jang Yoon-ki is scheduled to attend his second trial at the Gwangju District Court on July 13.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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