Jang Dong-hyuk's Meeting with Acting Police Commissioner General Falls Through: "This Is the Bottom of the Police"

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk's attempt to meet with Yoo Jae-sung, the acting Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency, on July 10 to question allegations of the police downplaying or covering up the 'Jang Yoon-gi case' fell through due to a disagreement over media access.
During the process, the People Power Party leadership, including Jang, engaged in a standoff with the police for approximately 30 minutes.
Jang, along with leadership members including Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong, Supreme Council member Shin Dong-wook, Chief of Staff to the Party Leader Park Jun-tae, and Chief Spokesperson Park Seong-hun, as well as lawmakers Cho Bae-sook and Joo Jin-woo, visited the National Police Agency this afternoon to demand a meeting with Acting Commissioner General Yoo.
While they requested that the opening remarks of the meeting be open to the press, the police refused, citing building security regulations.
Following the standoff, the People Power Party leadership and lawmakers attempted to enter the meeting room with their aides and reporters, but were blocked by police officers. The attempt to hold the meeting was ultimately abandoned after 50 minutes.
After the meeting failed, Jang stated, "This is the bottom level of the Republic of Korea's police. The public, who have watched this clearly, will pass judgment." He added, "It is shocking that such a police force has been conducting investigations under the guise of protecting the safety and lives of the people."
Targeting Acting Commissioner General Yoo, he criticized, "It is because of this attitude that they have the recklessness, shamelessness, and audacity to destroy evidence, manipulate cases, and downplay murder cases when their own people are involved. What can the public trust this police force to do?"
He further emphasized, "The issue is not about investigative authority; the Republic of Korea's police must be completely overhauled and reformed first."
Supreme Council member Shin Dong-wook told reporters after the meeting was canceled, "What is the Police Commissioner General so afraid of that he cannot even show his face? If they have any conscience, the acting commissioner and Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Kim Young-geun should resign immediately."
Previously, Jang and the party leadership had visited the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency the day before, on July 9, to demand a meeting with Commissioner Kim Young-geun, but were turned away due to his absence.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.