South Korean Acting Police Chief Pledges Investigation System Overhaul Amid Murder Case Controversy

SEOUL, July 20 (Yonhap) -- The nation's acting police chief on Monday reiterated his commitment to overhauling the entire police investigation system amid an ongoing controversy over the alleged mishandling of a high-profile murder case in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

Yoo Jae-seong, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), told reporters that the police will use the Gwangju case as an opportunity to thoroughly overhaul the entire investigation system and restore public trust.

The controversy centers on allegations that police in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul, leaked investigative material to the murder suspect's father, who is also a police officer in the city.

The suspect, 23-year-old Jang Yoon-gi, 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 the police will launch an investigation reform task force this month to prevent a recurrence of such a controversy and move forward with a rotational personnel system, which has faced strong internal opposition, after gathering feedback from officers in the field.

The task force will have seven to 10 members, with the majority being external members, and discuss personnel systems to eradicate collusion, Yoo said.

The internal corruption investigation unit to be established under the National Office of Investigation will investigate serious job-related crimes committed by KNPA officials, regardless of rank, he added.

The acting police chief said that senior superintendents and some superintendents are currently undergoing a nationwide rotation, but a rotational personnel system for all ranks could be problematic.

If rotational personnel management is fully implemented, various support measures may also be necessary, he noted.