Former National Office of Investigation Chief Sung-joo Park Pushes Back Against Indictment in ‘Gwangju High School Girl Murder’ Case, Calling It ‘Unwarranted’

[Financial News] Sung-joo Park, former chief of the Korean National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation, who was indicted in connection with the murder of a high school girl in Gwangju, strongly protested the prosecution’s decision, calling it “unjustified reasoning.” He also flatly denied the prosecution’s conclusion that he ordered a separate investigation to conceal the police’s inadequate response.
After the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office announced its investigation results on the 2nd, Park issued a statement. “I naturally feel a heavy sense of responsibility for some inappropriate and insufficient aspects of the investigation,” he said. “However, I can neither acknowledge nor accept the unjustified reasoning that I and the National Office of Investigation ordered a separate investigation to conceal the police organization’s inadequate response and avoid public criticism, thereby preventing the necessary investigation from being properly conducted.”
He claimed that he had made clear at the time that additional investigation was necessary. Park explained, “The investigation records submitted by the police station also listed investigative matters concerning the motive and purpose of the crime that had not been fully proven within the detention period, clearly indicating that additional investigation was necessary.”
Park maintained that the instructions he issued were also ordinary work-related directives. “There was neither a need nor any reason to distort, downplay, or issue improper instructions,” he said. “I merely gave entirely normal and routine work-related instructions, such as conducting a thorough investigation by function so that not a single suspicion remained and maintaining confidentiality given the nature of the case.”
He continued, “I strongly regret that the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office decided to bring charges despite my having sufficiently explained the matter during its investigation. I will participate in the upcoming trial proceedings honestly and diligently, without concealing the truth, while confidently demonstrating that the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office brought an unwarranted indictment.”
To the victim and her bereaved family, Park said, “I bow my head and offer my sincere regret and words of comfort.” He added, “As the former chief of the National Office of Investigation, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility for causing concern and distress to so many people through this case.”
[email protected] Ye-ji Kim Reporter