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South Korea's acting police chief on Monday pledged a comprehensive overhaul of the police investigation system amid an ongoing controversy over the handling of a high-profile murder case in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Yoo Jae-seong, acting commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), said the case would serve as a catalyst for systemic reform and for restoring public trust in the police.

Coverage Comparison

The reform commitment was reported by Yonhap News Agency, which has been following the controversy's development closely. The focus is on the police's response to allegations that investigative material was leaked to the family of the suspect in the Gwangju case. Yoo's pledge, made in a news conference, is presented as the leadership's direct answer to the public criticism that followed these allegations.

Key Claims

  • Acting Police Chief Yoo Jae-seong publicly committed to overhauling the police investigation system, saying the Gwangju case would serve as an opportunity for reform and to restore public trust.
  • The controversy stems from allegations that police in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, leaked investigative material to the father of murder suspect Jang Yoon-gi, who is himself a police officer in the city.
  • Jang, 23, is accused of killing a 16-year-old female high school student and attempting to kill a 17-year-old male student on May 5.
  • Yoo said an investigation reform task force would be launched this month to prevent a recurrence of such controversies. The task force will have seven to 10 members, with a majority coming from outside the police.
  • An internal corruption investigation unit is to be established under the National Office of Investigation to handle serious job-related crimes committed by KNPA officials, regardless of rank.
  • Yoo also addressed plans for a rotational personnel system, which has met with internal opposition; he indicated that a full-scale system could require additional support measures.
  • A separate report by Yonhap noted that the police would establish a task force to examine past investigations nationwide and that multiple officers are already suspected of leaking investigative information and destroying evidence related to the same murder case.
  • Yoo has scheduled a virtual leadership conference to address police misconduct and underscore the leadership's commitment to reform, according to the agency's announcement.