Opposition leader's meeting with Gwangju police chief fails; criticizes public treatment

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, led a delegation to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency on Tuesday, seeking a meeting with Police Chief Kim Young-geun. The purpose was to question him about allegations of a botched investigation and potential collusion in the 'Jang Yoon-gi case,' a high-profile murder of a high school student in Gwangju. However, the meeting was abruptly canceled, and Jang and his colleagues were prevented from meeting the chief, who was reportedly out of the office.

“

This is how the Korean police treat the public.

Frustrated by the inability to meet, Jang expressed strong criticism of the police's conduct. "This is how the Korean police treat the public," he stated, adding that granting the police full investigative authority without the power of supplementary investigation by prosecutors would ultimately harm citizens. The opposition lawmakers, including Shin Dong-wook, Kim Jang-gyeom, Seo Cheon-ho, and Park Joon-tae, were blocked at the lobby of the police agency. They protested the lack of access, with one questioning, "Are you saying we can't even be shown a meeting room?" Another added, "This is the duty of members of the National Assembly, a constitutional body. What law in any country allows us to be blocked in the lobby because the chief is absent?"

“

Police that have all investigative authority without the right to supplementary investigation will ultimately cause harm to the citizens.

Jang linked the alleged police misconduct to broader issues of public safety and accountability. "This lack of will and heart to protect the lives and safety of the people, this way of treating the public, is what led to such crimes," he asserted. "This attitude manifested as covering up evidence, suppressing investigations, and trying to conceal the case, as if they were protecting their own."

“

This lack of will and heart to protect the lives and safety of the people, this way of treating the public, is what led to such crimes.

The opposition's visit comes at a time when the ruling Democratic Party is pushing for police investigation reforms, including the abolition of the prosecutor's supplementary investigation rights while strengthening the prosecutor's right to request supplementary investigations. Jang warned that if the police gain unchecked power, they would "exercise 무소불위의 권력" (absolute, unchecked power), especially given the alleged instances of concealment and manipulation even under current prosecutorial oversight.

“

Police that have all investigative authority without the right to supplementary investigation will ultimately cause harm to the citizens.