Close Associates Quizzed in Probe Into Senior Cop Dubbed 'Geoje King'

[Anchor]

The National Police Agency's inspection team has conducted face-to-face questioning of close associate police officers of a local senior police official known as the so-called "Geoje King." While those involved have denied the allegations, additional testimonies regarding sexual misconduct and intervention in personnel affairs have continued to pour out following our reports.

[Reporter Cho Min-ki]

The individuals confirmed to have been recently subjected to face-to-face questioning by the National Police Agency's inspection team, who traveled to regions including Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province, are police officers pointed out as the closest junior associates of a senior superintendent surnamed A, who is referred to as the "Geoje King."

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

It is reported that during the inspection team's questioning, they denied most of the allegations, including sexual misconduct.

However, immediately following SBS's exclusive reports, current and former police officers in the South Gyeongsang Province area, centered around the Geoje Police Station, continued to report on Senior Superintendent A.

[Local Police Official D: He goes around to all the drinking gatherings of his close associates. He frequently acted in ways like putting his arms around female police officers' shoulders, holding their hands, or trying to kiss them.]

[Local Police Official E: Even when they go to a bar, they say they absolutely cannot mention him, that guy (Senior Superintendent A). If several people are sitting together, wouldn't there be spies for him among them? That guy ran everything, including personnel affairs, completely like that.]

Reactions expressing dismay flooded into the police anonymous community.

One police officer sharpened their criticism, stating, "Do not take female police officers to drinking gatherings," and calling it "filthy and despicable." Another police officer, claiming to be from the Geoje Police Station, targeted personnel corruption, venting, "There are guys who proudly boast that they were evaluated because they openly paid money. If you curse at that group, it immediately gets back to them and you get targeted."

Posts continuing to argue that this is not an issue limited to Geoje also followed, saying, "Let's summon the 'Geoje King' of every region across the country."

The inspection team staying on-site is accelerating efforts to secure physical evidence to substantiate the allegations of corruption against Senior Superintendent A and his closest associate police officers, alongside securing statements from those involved.

(Video Editing: Yoon Tae-ho)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.