Special Investigation Team Expanded in Jang Yoon-gi Case, Gwangju Command Excluded

The National Police Agency has reorganized its special investigation team to probe allegations of collusion between local police and a police inspector surnamed Jang, who is the father of Jang Yoon-gi, the perpetrator of the Gwangju high school girl murder case.
The National Office of Investigation announced through a press release today (July 6) that the dedicated investigation team previously formed at the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency has been expanded into a special investigation team tasked with uncovering the truth behind the murder case handled by the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station.
This measure was taken to thoroughly investigate various suspicions raised during the investigation process.
Hong Jang-deuk, the Police Investigation and Human Rights Officer at the National Police Agency, will lead the special investigation team.
In addition, with the deployment of a team leader and six investigators from the National Police Agency's Serious Crime Investigation Division, the total size of the team has increased to 27 members.
The National Office of Investigation explained that the special investigation team will operate independently, excluding the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency's command line, to ensure an impartial investigation, and will report only the final results to the Chief of the National Office of Investigation.
The agency further emphasized that it would conduct a thorough investigation into the entire process, leaving no room for doubt, including the allegations reported by the media.
Previously, Inspector A, who was the team leader in charge of the Jang Yoon-gi case, was arrested in an emergency operation today on charges of destroying evidence by removing cable ties during the search and seizure of Jang's vehicle immediately after the incident on May 5.
At the time, the investigation team discovered the cable ties inside the vehicle before the forensic team arrived, but failed to secure them as evidence.
The incident has sparked growing controversy, with critics pointing out that a key piece of evidence that could have been used to charge Jang with rape and murder has disappeared.
The fact that the cable ties inside the SUV had vanished was uncovered during an internal inspection by the National Police Agency, which was investigating allegations of collusion between Jang's father and the investigators.
Allegations of providing special favors or lenient treatment have also been continuously raised throughout the investigation of the Jang case.
The police handed over key evidence, such as the SUV used in the crime and a damaged sex doll found in Jang's studio apartment, to his family during the early stages of the investigation without preserving the physical items.
Inspector Jang, who received the address and door passcode of his son's studio apartment from the police investigation team three days after the incident, even disposed of the damaged sex doll, a key piece of evidence.
Hong Seok-ki, Chief of the National Office of Investigation, stated during a regular press briefing today that he would stake the reputation of the agency on conducting the best possible investigation into this case.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.