The prosecution has converted former National Office of Investigation chief Park Sung-joo into a suspect in the ongoing investigation regarding the alleged cover-up of the Jang Yoon-gi case, according to findings from reporting confirmed by MBC.
Prosecutors have transitioned Park alongside four other individuals from the initial investigation’s command line, including a criminal intelligence director identified as Chief Jeong, into suspects on charges of abuse of power, as reported to the National Police Agency and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. These officials face allegations of directing the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, which handled the preliminary investigation, to execute a split investigation into Jang’s murder of a high school girl and a separate sexual assault involving an immigrant woman.
Specific scrutiny surrounds a message sent on May 8 by a senior detective identified as Chief Choi. According to findings from joint prosecutorial and police investigations, Chief Choi messaged the Gwangju Provincial Police Agency’s violent crimes unit leader stating that the split investigation was ordered per instructions from the former investigation chief.
During questioning by prosecutors and police, Chief Choi stated that after Park received briefings on the matter, Park instructed that the stalking and sexual assault case should be handled in consultation with the women’s and youth affairs department so that it would not be openly publicized. Meanwhile, the initial investigative team at the Gwangsan Police Station stated that they submitted three separate requests to superiors to merge the murder and sexual assault charges to firmly establish Jang’s guilt in the gang-rape murder, but the National Office of Investigation rejected those requests.
Investigation Timeline and Agency Raids
Following allegations that the initial team applied only a simple murder charge to Jang under the National Office of Investigation’s directives, the prosecution and a special investigative unit from the National Police Agency executed simultaneous raids on the National Office of Investigation. Authorities subsequently conducted sequential questioning of related personnel involved in the command structure.
Did You Know? Investigators executed simultaneous raids on the National Office of Investigation after allegations emerged that the initial team applied only a simple murder charge to Jang under directives from the investigative leadership.
Park has previously addressed allegations regarding the split investigation directive, stating that because the deadline to transfer the Jang murder case was fast approaching, the intention was simply to prioritize the transfer of that specific portion of the case. Regarding the instruction to prevent the stalking and sexual assault matter from being openly publicized, Park explained that the directive was not intended to cover up the incident, but rather to comply with the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, Etc. of Sexual Crimes and victim protection by keeping the victim’s identity private.
Significance and Potential Developments in the Probe
The transition of Park and four other high-ranking officials to suspect status marks a critical escalation in accountability regarding how high-level oversight bodies handle concurrent serious crimes. As the investigation progresses, authorities may determine further formal charges depending on the evaluation of the command directives and the rejected requests for merged case files.
The core challenge in this case rests on whether the communications from leadership constituted legitimate administrative management of tight statutory deadlines or an unlawful intervention to obscure connected offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was former National Office of Investigation chief Park Sung-joo converted to a suspect?
Prosecutors converted Park and four other officials to suspects on charges of abuse of power due to allegations that they directed a split investigation into Jang Yoon-gi’s murder and sexual assault cases.
What was the stated reason for the split investigation order according to Park?
Park stated that the directive aimed to prioritize the transfer of the murder case because the statutory transfer deadline was fast approaching.
How did the initial police station investigators react to the directives?
The Gwangsan Police Station investigation team stated they submitted three separate formal requests to upper management to merge the murder and sexual assault charges, but the National Office of Investigation rejected those requests.
What aspects of the investigative oversight and command directives do you think deserve the closest scrutiny as the proceedings continue?