Police Agency Raids Gwangju Chief's Office While Lead Investigator Arrested in Murder Evidence Probe

Investigators from the National Office of Investigation raided the office of the Gwangju police chief and six other locations on July 11 as part of a probe into suspected collusion between a police officer and colleagues to destroy evidence in his son's murder case.

The raids targeted the offices of the Gwangju Police Agency chief and the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station chief. m.

Yonhap reported. The father, a Gwangju police officer, is suspected of working with colleagues to destroy evidence and access investigative information tied to his son's alleged crimes. The son, identified as 23-year-old Jang Yoon-gi, is accused of murdering a female high school student and attempting to murder a male student in Gwangju in May.

A special investigation team formed by the National Office of Investigation is handling the case. The lead investigator in the original murder inquiry was arrested earlier this week on concerns he might destroy evidence. Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong returned early from a trip to the United States on July 10.

He apologized to the victim's family and the public and said those responsible would be held to account, Yonhap reported. The prosecution is running a parallel investigation into the police handling of the murder. Democratic Party spokesperson Park Kyung-mee said all individuals involved in destroying or omitting evidence should face scrutiny.

People Power Party spokesperson Choi Eun-suk said removing prosecutors' rights to supplementary investigation would reduce protections for victims.