[Anchor]

We previously reported on allegations that the Gwangsan Police Station chief ordered a botched investigation into the Jang Yoon-gi case. An Huijae, the reporter who covered this story exclusively, is at the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency.

An, there have been strong suspicions that the investigation was lenient because Jang Yoon-gi's father is a member of the police force. It seems this case has entered a new phase.

[Reporter]

Since SBS first reported on the suspicious and inadequate initial investigation by the police into the Jang Yoon-gi case, public attention has been focused on who tried to protect Jang and why.

In particular, there were deep suspicions of collusion, as Jang's father is a serving senior police officer who has worked in the Gwangju area for a long time and is known to be close to some members of the Gwangsan Police Station investigation team.

However, the situation only fueled more questions, as Gwangsan Police Station Chief Kim, a superintendent general, and most of the investigation team denied any connection, claiming they had "never even met" Jang's father.

As we reported, the special investigation team believes that rather than the role of Jang's father, it was the police leadership's directive to ensure the Jang Yoon-gi case was not linked to relationship-based crimes that influenced the botched investigation.

[Anchor]

So, in the end, the Gwangsan Police Station was not investigating to uncover the truth or resolve the victim's grievances, but rather to evade their own responsibility?

[Reporter]

It is necessary to look back at the initial conclusion reached by the Gwangsan Police investigation team regarding the Jang Yoon-gi case last May.

In short, they announced that Jang had committed the murder impulsively.

However, considering the circumstances at the time—when police leadership faced a series of heavy disciplinary actions and public backlash over inadequate responses to relationship-based crimes, such as the stalking murder case in Namyangju—the special investigation team currently views that the investigation conclusion was downplayed to avoid similar fallout.

The argument is that it was ultimately for their own benefit, to avoid responsibility for inadequate responses.

It has been reported that some members of the investigation team even shed tears while providing statements during the recent special investigation.

[Anchor]

Please tell us what will happen with the police investigation moving forward.

[Reporter]

When asked by our reporting team whether the number of senior officials booked could increase, an official from the police special investigation team repeatedly emphasized, "Of course."

The implication is that if this botched investigation was carried out for the benefit of the police leadership, then the involvement of even higher-ranking officials is suspected.

The special investigation team plans to focus its questioning on whether there were directives from superiors above the Gwangsan Police Station chief or external solicitations.

(Video reporting: Joo Yong-jin, Video editing: Choi Jin-hwa)