Police Father Burns Son's Phones Amid Murder Investigation

A father, who is an active police officer, has burned his son's and other family members' mobile phones. His son, Jang Yun-gi, 23, is accused of murdering a high school student. The father, identified as Officer Jang, reportedly burned multiple phones belonging to his son and other family members on May 14, after his son's identity was released to the public. He moved to a different region in South Jeolla Province and disposed of the phones at his home.

Earlier, on May 8, three days after the murder, Officer Jang visited his son's studio apartment. He reportedly dismantled and discarded adult "real dolls" found there. These actions came to light on May 22 when prosecutors conducted a search and seizure. Prosecutors, noting the absence of the dolls in evidence handed over by the police, searched the father's residence and confirmed the phone incineration.

Officer Jang told prosecutors that he "did not want his son to be known as a sex offender" and "burned everything as part of tidying up." However, there is no evidence that the son or his parents contacted each other immediately after the crime. While South Korean law has an exemption for family members involved in destroying evidence, the National Police Agency plans to investigate whether there were any deficiencies in the investigation of Jang Yun-gi's case and the father's alleged destruction of evidence.

Jang is accused of fatally stabbing high school student Lee Chae-won, 17, on May 5 around 12:10 AM. He also allegedly attempted to stab another high school student who responded to the victim's screams. Police initially charged him with murder, but prosecutors applied the stricter charge of "murder during the commission of a sex crime," suspecting sexual motives based on evidence like the real dolls captured on police surveillance footage.

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I did not want my son to be known as a sex offender. I burned everything as part of tidying up.