[Anchor]
We have just reported that the police special investigation team has secured testimony indicating that the Gwangsan Police Station chief issued instructions to avoid linking the Jang Yun-gi case to relationship-based crimes, such as stalking. At the time, the police were facing disciplinary action following criticism that their inadequate response led to the stalking murder case in Namyangju. The special investigation team suspects that the Gwangju police intentionally downplayed the investigation to avoid such criticism and disciplinary measures.
Reporter Im Jihyeon has the story.
[Reporter]
The police special investigation team is focusing on the timing of the murder of the late Lee Chae-won, committed by Jang Yun-gi on May 5.
Previously, on March 14, Kim Hun, a perpetrator of a stalking murder in Namyangju, brutally murdered a woman in her 20s whom he had previously dated as she was leaving work.
At the time, the victim had reported Kim Hun to the police multiple times, even after being tracked by him, but she lost her life due to the police's inadequate response.
President Lee Jae-myung publicly rebuked the police.
[President Lee Jae-myung: Despite the victim's urgent requests, was this a horrific crime that could have been prevented if not for a complacent response? Please hasten to supplement the system strictly and thoroughly so that such tragedies do not recur.]
On April 7, the National Police Agency referred 16 individuals, including two police station chiefs in charge, to a disciplinary committee and requested investigations into two others.
It was in this atmosphere, with the police organization on high alert—including conducting a full investigation into relationship-based crimes—that the Jang Yun-gi case occurred.
According to SBS reporting, the special investigation team has secured testimony that Kim, a police superintendent who was the chief of Gwangsan Police Station at the time of the Jang Yun-gi case investigation, told the investigation team to "be careful," taking this atmosphere into account.
The special investigation team believes that the Gwangsan Police leadership concluded the case as a general murder rather than rape-murder, fearing that if the circumstances linking the Jang Yun-gi case to a relationship-based crime became public, it would lead to reprimands and disciplinary action for failing to respond properly.
Ultimately, they suspect that the Gwangsan Police leadership conducted a poor investigation for the purpose of evading responsibility and for their own interests.
The police have seized the office and mobile phone of the Gwangsan Police chief to verify the relevant circumstances and plan to summon Superintendent Kim soon to question him regarding the allegations.
When asked by the SBS reporting team for his stance on the related allegations, Superintendent Kim's side did not provide an answer.
(Video reporting: Joo Yong-jin, Video editing: Lee So-young, Design: Lee Jun-ho)
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