Acting Police Chief to Cut Short US Trip Amid Murder Case Controversy

SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- The acting national police chief will cut short his trip to the United States and return home early amid growing controversy over the police response to a high-profile murder case, the agency said Wednesday.

Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong is in the U.S. to attend the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS) from July 5-11, but he will return home on Friday "given public concern and interest" regarding the recent murder case involving a female high school student, according to the agency.

Allegations have intensified over possible ties between local investigators and the father of Jang Yoon-gi, the suspect accused of killing a 17-year-old female student and attempting to murder a 17-year-old male student in the southwestern city of Gwangju in May.

Jang's father is a serving police officer in the city.

Following controversies and suspicions, the agency has formed a special investigation team to look into allegations of misconduct, and the team has requested an arrest warrant for the police officer who led the murder case investigation.

Multiple police officers at Gwangju's Gwangsan Police Station were stripped of their duties and have come under investigation on suspicion of leaking investigative information and destroying evidence related to the case.

Police have requested an arrest warrant for the police officer who led the murder case investigation amid suspicions of misconduct.

Prosecutors also conducted a search and seizure operation at the police station on Tuesday.

The controversy comes at a time when lawmakers are debating whether to abolish prosecutors' authority to request supplementary investigations, raising questions about the police's ability to independently handle major criminal cases.