Seoul Police Chief: “Metropolitan Investigation Unit to Directly Investigate Han Dong-hoon and Kim Seung-won Cases” ... Seoul Moves to Curb Copycat Crimes After Incheon Knife Rampage

[Financial News] The case involving lawmaker Kim Seung-won, which had been handled by Yeongdeungpo Police Station, and the case involving lawmaker Han Dong-hoon will be transferred to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Metropolitan Investigation Unit for direct investigation by the agency. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is taking over because an investigation at the local station level could prove burdensome. It is also stepping up patrols at crowded facilities to prevent copycat crimes following the knife rampage in Incheon.■ Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Metropolitan Investigation Unit to Directly Investigate Han Dong-hoon and Kim Seung-won Cases 
At a regular press briefing at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 19th, Seoul Police Chief Go Beom-seok said the case involving lawmaker Kim Seung-won and allegations of solicitation related to a new drug “is scheduled to be transferred to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency today.” The agency had been providing legal analysis, but it decided to take over the case entirely because its complexity and the burden of investigating it at Yeongdeungpo Police Station were considerable.
The case involving lawmaker Han Dong-hoon (allegations of preferential treatment in his children’s admissions), which had also been assigned to Yeongdeungpo Police Station, will likewise be transferred to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit, along with the case of leaking official secrets, following the filing of an additional complaint. Chief Go said, “I was told that it was decided to transfer these cases to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit so the agency could investigate them directly.” The unit responsible within the Metropolitan Investigation Unit has not yet been decided.
A complaint alleging that the investigation into allegations involving lawmaker Han Dong-hoon’s children was covered up was filed with the National Police Agency and forwarded to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 15th. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency plans to assign the case to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit. Chief Go said, “I understand that the Ministry of Justice is also auditing the part of the existing international legal assistance process for which the prosecution did not submit a request,” adding, “We will review the audit findings and reexamine the existing investigation to determine the scope of any reinvestigation.”■ Preventing Repeat Knife Rampage Crimes... Special Safety Operations Around HalloweenThe agency also announced follow-up measures after the knife rampage in Incheon. Chief Go said, “When a serious violent crime occurs, public anxiety grows, and given the nature of these incidents, there is concern that copycat or similar crimes may follow. To prevent this, we need to take proactive steps to get ahead of the situation.”
Since the day after the Incheon incident, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been conducting a special safety operation targeting crowded facilities. In view of Halloween, the operation will continue through the 2nd of next month. Mobile police units and metropolitan preventive patrol units not assigned to respond to rallies have suspended training and been deployed to support public safety and conduct patrols.
The agency is also conducting preliminary safety assessments with district offices. Chief Go said, “Before Halloween, I will go to the sites myself to review the assessments by police stations and local governments together, and provide active support wherever needed.”
Kang Ho-dong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, appeared at a police station for questioning for the second time that day in connection with allegations of embezzlement and receiving money and valuables. Since the first questioning in April, police have also been examining a case referred for investigation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The Financial Crime Investigation Unit is investigating allegations of occupational breach of trust involving a former president of LG Energy Solution after receiving a complaint in February. Police are also assigning a case based on a complaint filed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 16th concerning alleged kickbacks related to the Hangang Bus project, which was raised during this parliamentary audit.
A nationwide comprehensive investigation into relationship-related offenses will also run from today through the end of this month. It will cover a total of 43,712 people, coordinated by metropolitan and provincial police agencies nationwide, including the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency; 8,500 of those are in the Seoul agency’s jurisdiction. 
Separately, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will hold a personal information disclosure review committee meeting at 2 p.m. that day for the suspect in the Songpa murder of his mother-in-law and kidnapping of his wife. The suspect was taken into custody on the 13th on charges of murdering a lineal ascendant and special confinement.

[email protected] Seo Ji-yoon Reporter