Former National Investigation Chief Calls Indictment Unjust and Defends “Normal” Order in Jang Yoon-gi Case

Former National Office of Investigation chief Park Seong-joo has directly rejected the prosecution’s case against him, calling the indictment an “unjust construction” that he said could not be understood in common-sense terms.

Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Park and three members of the former investigation command on the 2nd. They face charges of abusing authority and obstructing the exercise of rights without being detained. Prosecutors allege that Park ordered a separate investigation during the Jang Yoon-gi case to prevent criticism over what had been described as an inadequate police response.

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There was absolutely no reason to order distortion or reduction of the case to conceal the organization’s inadequate response or avoid public criticism.

Park denied the allegations in a formal statement. He said there had been no reason to order investigators to distort or reduce the case to hide organizational failures or avoid public criticism. Instead, he described the instruction as “a perfectly normal and routine work order” intended to preserve security and ensure a thorough investigation by function.

He said he accepted responsibility for shortcomings in the investigative process. But Park also expressed strong regret that the Gwangju prosecutors had decided to indict him despite what he said were sufficient explanations. He said he would use the upcoming trial to challenge the prosecution’s decision and argue that the indictment had gone too far.

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It was merely a perfectly normal and routine work order to maintain security given the nature of the case and to conduct a thorough investigation by function.