[Anchor]

A senior police officer currently under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct in the Geoje region has been confirmed to be facing additional investigation over suspicions of personnel corruption. It has been learned that the number of investigation targets linked to allegations of buying and selling official positions is at least five, excluding this officer.

Reporter Bae Seong-jae has the details.

[Reporter]

According to SBS reporting, the Korean National Police Agency's inspection team recently officially requested an investigation into the personnel corruption allegations surrounding Senior Superintendent A, widely known as the "Geoje King."

The case has been assigned to the Daejeon Provincial Police Agency's Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit, which began full-scale investigations last week by contacting related parties on the ground in Geoje.

The investigation team plans to first clarify allegations that Senior Superintendent A interfered in the personnel appointments of other police officers within the Geoje Police Station.

It is suspected that he was involved in promotions and other personnel matters in exchange for money and valuables, with rumors reportedly circulating covertly within the local area at the time regarding fixed prices based on police ranks.

[Local Police Official: To get promoted to senior superintendent, it was 50 million won; for superintendent, about 20 million won; senior inspector, 10 million; usually from constable to corporal was 300,000, and corporal to sergeant was 500,000...]

It has been confirmed that there are at least five police officers under investigation besides Senior Superintendent A.

Appearing before the National Police Agency's inspection probe into various allegations, including personnel corruption, on the 14th, Senior Superintendent A responded to reporters' questions regarding suspicions of buying and selling positions as follows:

[Senior Superintendent A: (Is it true that you received money and promoted certain staff members?) No. (Are you denying the allegations?) It is not true.]

Following the sexual misconduct allegations already under investigation, the shift to coercive investigations over personnel corruption is expected to widen the scope of the police probe surrounding Senior Superintendent A across the board.

In particular, the police plan to uncover the full picture through upcoming additional investigations regarding suspicions that Senior Superintendent A mobilized the influence of so-called higher-ups during his own personnel review and promotion process.

(Video Editing: Yeojin)