"Did the Police Chief Flee?" Jang Dong-hyeok Visits Gwangju but Meeting Falls Through

People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok made a protest visit to the Gwangju Police Agency on the 9th over suspicions of police collusion in the "Gwangju high school girl murder" case involving Jang Yun-gi, but his meeting with the police chief fell through. "This is the state of Korea's police," Jang said. "The public will now worry about how the police, which no longer face the prosecution or supplementary investigation rights, will abuse their authority."

Along with Jang, PPP leadership including lawmakers Kim Jang-kyum, Park Jun-tae, Seo Cheon-ho and Shin Dong-wook visited the Gwangju Police Agency that day to meet with Gwangju Police Chief Kim Young-geun. Jang also canceled his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Han Seong-sook to visit Gwangju.

The party leadership demanded a meeting with Chief Kim, but access to the building was restricted and they were blocked by police. Gwangju Police Agency officials said Chief Kim was not present and, citing security, did not open the entrance. In response, the leadership protested: "We came in the capacity of a constitutional body representing the people. In what country's law can we not enter the lobby just because the chief is absent?" and "This is why suspicions arise that the police are investigating on the side of the murderer."

Toward the Gwangju Police Agency officials who controlled the access, Jang said, "This shows exactly how low the level of Korea's police is." Jang added, "In a case that has drawn public anger, the fact that the police destroyed evidence, downsized the case and tried to cover it up is making the public even angrier." He continued, "The chief fled, leaving standing the opposition party leader and lawmakers who came to ask about how the suspicions arose and about future measures," delivering harsh criticism that "the public will think, 'It is because of police like this that crimes occur.'"

Regarding the abolition of supplementary investigation rights, Jang pointed out, "They are saying they will completely eliminate supplementary investigation rights for a police force that conceals evidence and downsizes cases." He added, "The public will worry about how the police—with no prosecution, no supplementary investigation rights and no check from the prosecution—will abuse their authority and trample on the lives and safety of the people."

He went on to say, "If the police investigate with this attitude, watching no one, they will conceal cases even more and think only of their own safety and that of their own kind," adding, "Yet the Democratic Party and the Lee Jae-myung administration are recklessly committing to entrusting all cases to the police."

After confronting the police in the building lobby for about 30 minutes, the PPP leadership eventually turned away without meeting Chief Kim.