Subtitles: "Supplementary Investigation? Just Tell the Media"... Is This the Alternative to Prevent Another 'Jang Yoon-gi Case'?

A proposal by a politician regarding the difficulties in checking police investigations following the abolition of the prosecution's authority to request supplementary investigations is sparking controversy.

Choi Kang-wook, a former lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on the YouTube program 'Maebulshow' yesterday (July 8). While discussing the 'Jang Yoon-gi case,' in which a high school girl was murdered in Gwangju, he stated, "The core issue is whether a case can only be properly uncovered and punished if the authority for supplementary investigation exists."

He then posed a hypothetical scenario where a prosecutor requests additional evidence collection in a sex crime case, but the police fail to investigate. He remarked, "If the authority for supplementary investigation were completely abolished, if I were a prosecutor, I would immediately inform the media."

[Choi Kang-wook / Former Democratic Party Lawmaker (Yesterday, YouTube 'Maebulshow'): If I were a prosecutor, I would inform the media immediately. I would raise the issue officially. I would say, 'The police are not investigating this.']

This is interpreted to mean that even without the prosecution's authority for supplementary investigation, one could resolve the issue by leaking information about the suspect to the media to pressure the police.

Choi's argument has drawn criticism from some in the legal community, who argue that it shifts the state's responsibility to properly exercise its penal power within the institutional framework onto the private sector.

Furthermore, concerns have been raised that such actions could constitute the crime of publishing facts of a suspected criminal case under the Criminal Act.

A lawyer and former prosecutor pointed out, "The very idea that informing the media is an alternative is absurd," adding, "If the authority for supplementary investigation is completely abolished, there would be no way to verify whether there are problems just by looking at the records."

Previously, in the case involving the perpetrator Jang Yoon-gi, the police initially referred the case to the prosecution on charges of simple murder, which carries a lighter sentence. However, the prosecution uncovered evidence of rape-murder through supplementary investigations and indicted the suspect.

During this process, it was revealed that the perpetrator's father, an active-duty police officer, had spoken with the investigator in charge and attempted to destroy evidence. This has led to growing concerns over whether it is appropriate to abolish the authority for supplementary investigation and leave investigations solely to the police.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Dain | Graphics by Yang Hyemin | Produced by SBS Digital News | Source: YouTube 'Maebulshow'
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.