Jeong Yong-hee, Lead Investigator in Jinan, Locks Door on Reporters

New Tamasa reporters visited Jinan Police Station to investigate the reasons behind the decision by Jeong Yong-hee, the lead investigator at Jinan Police Station, not to prosecute an election law violation case related to a money-for-votes corruption case they reported in May.

The reporters planned to directly question Team Leader Jeong Yong-hee to resolve suspicions about the case handling process.

When reporters asked Team Leader Jeong Yong-hee about the reasons for not prosecuting the election law violation case and attempted to record, Team Leader Jeong refused to be recorded and avoided answering questions.

Team Leader Jeong eventually locked the office door, cutting off communication with the reporters.

Team Leader Jeong Yong-hee locked the door of the investigation team office, where approximately 10 people, including the investigation section chief and the entire investigation team, work.

This resulted in not only Team Leader Jeong but also other fellow detectives being blocked from entering the office.

When reporters visited again and asked about the reasons for not prosecuting the election offender and suspicions of solicitation, Team Leader Jeong Yong-hee refused to answer, claiming obstruction of business.

Reporters pointed out that it was inappropriate for an investigation team leader, who is a suspect, to investigate his own case.

Team Leader Jeong Yong-hee refused to be interviewed, claiming that the reporters' recording was illegal.

Reporters also asked about Team Leader Jeong's relationship with the head of Bugwi-myeon, who is known to be his older sister, but he avoided answering.

The hosts pointed out the contradictory situation where a suspect of dereliction of duty and abuse of power exercises investigative power over their own case.

This raises concerns that the reduction of the prosecution's direct investigative power over the police could weaken control over the police, leading to unfair victim investigation processes.

The hosts emphasized that even if the police conceal a case, the prosecution lacks direct means to oversee it.

Therefore, they expressed the opinion that the prosecutor's direct investigative power over the police should be maintained, and that the complete abolition of investigative power is not always the best solution.

Reporters visited Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency requesting an interview with the officer in charge of offline and Shinmungo (public petition) case assignments but encountered a closed system requiring access through the Civil Affairs Office.

The officers concerned were either absent or refused interviews, showing an uncooperative attitude.

The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency officially stated through the relevant department that it would not cooperate with the reporting.

Instead, they advised that they would respond through the public relations office if information was requested.

The hosts pointed out not only the problems at Jinan Police Station but also that the superior Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency was condoning suspicions of case concealment by its subordinate police station.

Criticism was raised that trust in the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency is declining due to the practice of ignoring hundreds of residents' petitions and sending cases back to Jinan Police Station.

The hosts raised the possibility that the police investigation line might be contaminated by a specific political party, particularly the People Power Party.

They cited a lack of trust within the police organization as the background for the delay in appointing the National Police Agency Commissioner, expressing concerns about the collusion between a police mafia and a specific political party.