For 8 Years, a Mother and Son Cry Out, 'My Son is Not a Rapist'

This incident prompted then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung to order a complete review of investigative practices, initiating discussions on the 'sangpije' system to prevent police misconduct.

This strengthened the argument that investigators from the relevant police station should be excluded from cases involving police family members to ensure fair investigations of internal police corruption.

Despite clear evidence in the complaints, the county chief was never investigated by the police for six months after the incidents occurred.

These circumstances strongly suggest that a lenient investigation may have been conducted because the investigation team leader was a close aide to the county chief.

At the time, the police coerced a confession without even checking CCTV, and the investigators packaged it as the first case under the presidential directive, achieving promotions.

This behavior highlights the dangers of monopolized investigative powers and serves as an example of how performance-driven manipulated investigations can cause immense harm to innocent citizens.

Despite clear evidence of the manipulation, the responsible police officers were not adequately punished, and lenient investigations and decisions not to prosecute by their colleagues continued.

Ultimately, after 8 years of trying to publicize the issue and seek relief through the media without success, the victim's mother and son have launched a shaved-head, hunger strike in front of the National Assembly, appealing for the truth to be revealed.

The investigation into the responsible police officers was handled by their colleagues, resulting in an inadequate investigation. Although the prosecution requested supplementary investigations multiple times, the police consistently issued no-suspicion decisions or maintained non-prosecution decisions.

This peer investigation system is cited as a major cause of structural unfairness and delayed victim relief.

The police conducted a coercive investigation that framed a man in his 20s as the perpetrator, leading to a reversal of victim and perpetrator.

The victim's family is continuing their struggle, demanding the truth about the police's alleged manipulated investigation that has spanned 8 long years.

They concealed the victim woman's drunkenness and aggression, reporting as if she had been kidnapped after voluntarily getting into the car.

They conducted a shoddy investigation, only checking CCTV after the case was forwarded, and exhibited coercive behavior, including cursing at the victim and forcing a confession.

This manipulative behavior by the police was pointed out as a serious problem that distorts the reality of the case and creates innocent victims.

Currently, they are still handling investigations at Gwangsan Police Station, Haenam Police Station, and other locations.

This situation raises concerns that manipulative investigative personnel could cause similar incidents in other settings and criticizes the absence of the prosecution's investigative oversight role.

Concerns were raised that the current method of prosecutorial reform is detached from public safety and that attempts to demonize and eliminate the prosecution through overly aggressive reform are degenerating into a power struggle. In this process, innocent victims are ignored, and partisan interests are prioritized over the actual safety of the public.

The importance of a system to filter erroneous police investigations was emphasized, and it was pointed out that true reform should prioritize public safety.

Buoyed by her son's renewed passion, the mother resumed her struggle as if gaining a powerful ally.

Now, they have begun a shaved-head and hunger strike in front of the National Assembly to publicize her son's innocence.

The mother stated that after participating in the hunger strike with her son for two days, she would go down to Gwangju to hold other protests.

Their struggle is unfolding by combining protests in Gwangju and in front of the National Assembly, starting with a shaved-head and hunger strike at the latter.

Hoping for a proper response from the National Assembly and political circles after the change of government, they continue their fight for truth.

The son first suggested a shaved-head protest in front of the National Assembly, and the mother revealed that her son was considering an even greater struggle: a hunger strike.

Ultimately, the mother and son began a shaved-head, hunger strike in front of the National Assembly, venting their frustration together.

It was pointed out that currently, all investigations return to the police organization despite the prosecution's request for supplementary investigations, creating a paradox where the prosecution cannot directly investigate even if the police conceal a case.

In previous police station cases, it was analyzed that if the prosecution sends a case back to the police, there is a high risk of police protecting their own recurring. It was emphasized that the prosecution's direct investigative power is a key safeguard to check improper police investigations.

The argument is that if the prosecution can directly investigate even if the police conceal a case, the police themselves will be vigilant and conduct fair investigations.

The host criticized the prosecution for condoning the police's disregard of supplementary investigation requests, stating that this demonstrates the prosecution's loss of its police oversight function. The issue was raised that merely reducing the number of prosecutors and the personnel of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is not the solution.

It was pointed out that despite hearing the heartbreaking story of the victim mother and son, which has lasted for 8 years, the prosecution and CIO are not fulfilling their proper roles.

The victim's mother strongly criticized the indifference of National Assembly members who ignore the suffering of the people. She pointed out that National Assembly members are not listening to the voices of the people, leading to a hunger strike despite a legitimate struggle.

This shaved-head, hunger strike has no set end and will continue indefinitely until the situation is resolved, she stated with strong resolve.

The victim's mother demanded the immediate dismissal of police officers involved in manipulation and severe punishment for those who concealed investigations. She also presented a roadmap for substantive police reform through strengthening perjury laws and realizing judicial justice.

She emphasized that as long as manipulative police officers remain in investigative roles, the public cannot trust the police, and they must be dismissed to live alongside the people.

The host emphasized that prosecutorial reform should not be about weakening or dismantling the prosecution, but about restoring its oversight function so that it can fulfill its original role. He stated that it is not about disempowering the prosecution, but about ensuring it performs its rightful duties.

He also criticized the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's retaliatory investigative practices and stated the need for legal system improvements to protect victims and for the prosecution to perform its role fairly.

He argued that if the prosecution fails to function properly, innocent victims will suffer, and abuses of power will go unchecked, thus true prosecutorial reform should focus on restoring the prosecution's proper function.