Close Associates Questioned in Succession... "What Had to Come Has Come" on Bulletin Board

[Anchor]

The National Police Agency's inspection team has recently conducted face-to-face interviews with police officers identified as close associates of the senior official in question. Meanwhile, testimonies exposing the official's misconduct are pouring in on police anonymous online communities.

This is an exclusive report by reporter Cho Min-ki.

[Reporter]

The individuals recently visited and questioned face-to-face by the National Police Agency inspection team in places such as Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do, are police officers identified as the closest junior associates of Superintendent A, commonly referred to as the "King of Geoje."

They are known to be individuals who either arranged the drinking gathering where Superintendent A allegedly sexually harassed junior female police officers or received various benefits such as promotions from Superintendent A.

During the inspection team's questioning, they reportedly denied most of the allegations, including sexual misconduct.

However, immediately following yesterday's (July 23) exclusive SBS report, current and former police officers across Gyeongsangnam-do, centered around the Geoje Police Station, continued to pour in tips regarding Superintendent A.

[Local Police Official D: He always showed up at drinking gatherings with his close associates. He frequently engaged in behaviors such as putting his arm around female police officers' shoulders, holding their hands, or trying to kiss them.]

[Local Police Official E: Even when going to a bar, people say they absolutely cannot mention him (Superintendent A). If several people are sitting together, wouldn't there be his spies among them? That guy operated entirely on personnel matters and things like that.]

Reactions of dismay flooded the police anonymous community.

One police officer lashed out, saying, "Do not take female police officers to drinking spots," calling it "filthy and despicable." Another police officer, claiming to be from the Geoje Police Station, targeted personnel corruption by venting, "There are guys who proudly brag that they got promoted because they paid money. If you criticize that group, it gets back to them right away and you get blacklisted."

Posts asserting that this is not just an issue limited to Geoje also continued, with comments such as, "Let's summon the local 'Kings of Geoje' from all over the country."

The inspection team stationed locally is accelerating efforts to secure statements from related parties as well as physical evidence to prove the allegations of misconduct against Superintendent A and his closest police associates.

(Video Editing: Yoon Tae-ho)