Police Investigate 99 Cases Involving 289 People Over Jamsil Counting Center Protest, Including Online Insults Against Officers

[Financial News] Police have been investigating a total of 99 cases related to various illegal acts that occurred at the Jamsil counting center protest site, which has continued since the June 3 local election ballot shortage incident.
At a regular press briefing on the 13th, Park Jeong-bo, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said, "We have investigated or are investigating a total of 99 cases involving 289 people." He added, "The number of investigators increased after we extracted and submitted IDs that attacked police officers online."
By type of offense, police are investigating obstruction of business at the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), illegal searches of youth handball players, insults, defamation and obstruction of official duties against police officers, assaults on reporters, and assaults between protesters.
Park said, "Two people have been detained on charges of obstruction of official duties, and some have been referred without detention." He emphasized, "Police will actively protect peaceful and orderly expression of opinion, but we will strictly handle illegal acts committed individually."
Regarding the so-called "law distortion offense," police have received 175 cases in total, completed investigations into 75, and are currently investigating 100 more. The largest number of suspects, 203, were police officers, followed by judges, prosecutors, prosecutors' office investigators, and other public officials. Of the 75 closed cases, 48 were not forwarded for prosecution, 17 were transferred to the CIO, 8 were not filed, and 2 were transferred to other provincial police agencies.
Park said, "Because this is a newly established punishment provision, we are conducting the investigation more carefully."
Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a social networking service post threatening to kill President Lee Jae-myung and plan to hand the person over to prosecutors soon.
In connection with the collapse of the Seosomun overpass, police questioned the construction company directly involved in the demolition work. Park explained, "The first round of findings appears to be nearly finalized," adding, "We are now investigating the agencies responsible for construction management and supervision." On the possibility of summoning Seoul Metropolitan Government officials, he said, "We will do so if necessary."
As for allegations that HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk engaged in fraudulent unfair trading, police plan to decide whether to seek detention once supplementary investigations are completed.
When asked whether prosecutors had recommended applying fraud charges against Bang, Park replied, "The prosecutors' office cannot officially request a change in the charge," adding, "We have not received any official proposal for a change in the charge." He continued, "We are in discussions with prosecutors. The supplementary investigation is progressing, so once it is finished, we will consult with prosecutors again and make a decision."
jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter