Jeonbuk Police Assign Case to County Mayor's Close Aide

It has been alleged that the complaint case against Jeon Chun-seong, Jinan County Mayor, which still has an active supplementary investigation order from the prosecution, is being assigned to an investigation team leader who has a special relationship with the suspect. The presenter pointed out that the police are ignoring the prosecution's instructions and continuously assigning the case to an individual with a special relationship.

This case, involving a complaint against Jinan County Mayor Jeon Chun-seong, has raised questions about fairness as an investigation team leader with a special relationship with the suspect has taken charge of it.

The presenter criticized that the police's abuse of power is not being properly controlled. This raises concerns that police abuse of power could intensify further after the launch of the National Investigation Headquarters and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in October.

As the prosecution's investigative powers have been curtailed, the police's power to conclude investigations has been strengthened, but there are ongoing criticisms that the checks and balances for this are inadequate.

With the decision to host Suncheon University becoming irreversible, Mokpo University's bid for a national medical school has fallen through. As an alternative, discussions have been held about establishing a hospital centered on renowned doctors who retired from famous hospitals such as Seoul National University Hospital.

This proposal, suggested by lawmaker Son Hye-won, is considered a valid opinion. There is a consensus that a new approach is needed to fill the medical void in the Mokpo region.

However, it remains uncertain whether such an alternative will actually be implemented. Further discussions and efforts will likely be needed to expand medical infrastructure.

After Kim & Chang recruited the prosecutor who investigated candidate Kim Seung-won, allegations of a leak of investigation data to undermine the Justice Minister nominee have emerged. It is pointed out that suspicions are growing regarding the repeated leakage of investigation data.

This leads to suspicions that Kim & Chang might be leaking investigation data to undermine the nominee.

The presenter strongly suggested that there might be some forces behind this.

Director Cho Kuk asserted that his remarks on the possibility of Lee Jae-myung's guilt were an objective diagnosis based on the legal principles of the Supreme Court's remand decision. He reiterated that a waiver of prosecution through an amendment to the false statement of facts law, rather than a cancellation of indictment, is the proper course of action.

Director Cho Kuk explained that his comments were based on the Supreme Court's ruling, clarifying the interpretation of his remarks.

This appears to be an attempt to provide a legal interpretation and solution to the controversy surrounding Lee Jae-myung.

The Jinan Police Station issued a disposition of no charges due to insufficient evidence in the case of alleged bribery and official election interference related to the Jinan County Mayor election. The presenter criticized this decision despite the existence of specific evidence.

Despite clear evidence, including informant recordings and KakaoTalk chatroom data, the police dismissed the charges citing insufficient evidence. The presenter questioned, "How can they determine 'insufficient' when there is such clear evidence?"

This decision further amplifies suspicions of a case cover-up.

Criticism is growing, and demands for transparency in the police investigation process are continuing.

It was revealed that the head of the Democratic Party's Jinan local office encouraged people to vote for Jeon Chun-seong in a group chatroom and demanded vote verification. Township and village council heads reported the real-time status of completed votes.

This was presented as clear evidence of organized vote encouragement and verification procedures. The presenter pointed out that the content of these messages clearly indicated who the cyber-election campaign was for.

The police decided to dismiss the charges on the grounds that the chatroom in question existed before the election. However, the presenter criticized that the pre-existence of the chatroom is not the important factor; rather, whether the chatroom was used for election campaigning is the essence.

It is pointed out that this police judgment effectively exonerates the act of organized vote inducement itself. The presenter strongly criticized the police's logic, stating, "It's an outrageous situation."

This has raised questions about the police's willingness to investigate.

Allegations have surfaced that the Jinan Police Station has not conducted a single investigation into Mayor Jeon Chun-seong. It has been confirmed that no investigation has taken place since the time of the complaint in April.

New TamSa revealed that the Jinan Police Station has virtually exonerated cases where clear evidence of bribery and official election interference was found.

This is an unconventional way of handling investigations, fueling suspicions of a cover-up.

The central party's ethics audit team came to Jinan and conducted a perfunctory interview investigation with relevant officials for about 10 minutes. Han Soo-young testified that the audit team simply asked about the receipt of money and then left immediately.

He criticized the perfunctory attitude of the audit, saying, "They met briefly and asked, 'Did you receive money or not?' Oh, of course, they'd say no. Yes, they said no. I saw them, yes, that's right. They greeted each other and talked for about 10 minutes and left."

This is a criticism of the formal attitude of the audit.

Allegations of macro manipulation have emerged regarding an abnormal surge in views (4,200 times) for former police officer candidate Lee. Jinan Police Station investigators showed an unsatisfactory attitude, including sending typo-ridden notification messages to the complainant, while handling this case.

New TamSa pointed out the investigators' attitude, stating that suspicions grew due to the refusal to transfer the case despite a request, mentioning that the accused was a former police officer.

The investigator in question notified that macro manipulation could not be punished, stating it was before the law's enforcement on July 7. However, New TamSa rebutted, stating that cases of obstruction of business using macros have a precedent of being punished under the existing obstruction of business charge.

This suggests that the investigator either misinterpreted the law or lacked investigative will. Criticism has been raised for disregarding existing precedents and prejudging the absence of suspicion.

This attitude by the investigator is interpreted as a lack of willingness to properly investigate the case.

Residents, angered by allegations of a case cover-up at the Jinan Police Station, filed complaints through the Shinmungo (public petition system). Residents requested that the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency investigate directly and not send the case to the Jinan Police Station.

However, the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency ignored the residents' pleas and sent the case back to the Jinan Police Station. This is criticized as an act that disregards residents' demands and further amplifies suspicions.

The Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office received the case, questioned Jinan Police Station's decision not to forward it, and instructed the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency to combine and investigate the cases. However, the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency ignored the prosecution's request and committed the outrage of re-transferring the case to the Jinan Police Station.

The presenter strongly criticized, saying, "So, they ignored the prosecution's request again and committed the almost outrageous act of sending the case back down to the Jinan Police Station."

This has further solidified suspicions of police non-compliance with prosecutorial directives and abuse of power.

The combined case was split into several parts and allocated to Jinan Police Station and Muju Police Station, even with incorrect dates. In a bizarre situation, investigators told those who came for complainant interviews that they were all suspects.

New TamSa criticized, saying, "The investigators are all suspects, aren't they? The suspects told me to receive a complainant interview. Isn't this absurd?"

It is pointed out that sending the cases to Jinan Police Station and Muju Police Station on the same day appears to be an intentional dispersion of cases.

This method of processing is suspected of having the intention to obstruct the investigation.

It is an absurd situation that the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency re-transferred a case that the prosecution had ordered to investigate directly, to the Jinan Police Station. The presenter commented, "So, it's absurd that they sent down the complaint filed with the Jeonbuk Provincial Police to Jinan, to Jinan Station."

In particular, by sending the case to the location of the Jinan Police Station investigation team leader, who is the suspect, controversy over the abuse of investigative power has arisen.

This amplifies suspicions that the police are avoiding investigation or protecting a specific individual.

Jinan County gift certificates issued in March, April, and May, the three months immediately preceding the election, were abnormally depleted within 2 to 3 days of issuance. Han Soo-young stated, "In March, April, and May, gift certificates ran out within two or three days of being issued."

Despite a purchase limit of 500,000 won per person, suspicions have been raised that someone bought a large quantity of gift certificates.

This suggests the possibility that they were used as a means of distributing money before the election, and calls are being made for a thorough investigation.

Allegations of collusion have surfaced as Jeong Yong-hee, the investigation team leader at Jinan Police Station, is known to have a sister who is a close aide to Jinan County Mayor Jeon Chun-seong. The presenter stated, "It is rumored that the sister of Jeong Yong-hee, the investigation team leader at Jinan Police Station, is a close aide to Jinan County Mayor Jeon Chun-seong."

It was revealed that Team Leader Jeong Yong-hee was suddenly appointed to this position in January 2026, transitioning from the forensic science field.

This background of personnel appointment further amplifies questions about the fairness of case assignments.

When New TamSa reporters visited the Jinan Police Station to inquire about allegations of bribery in the election, investigation team leader Jeong Yong-hee, upon confirming that the reporters were recording, immediately refused the interview and demanded their 퇴거 (departure). He said, "Are you recording? Are you? Of course, I am when reporting. I'm just telling you to leave."

Team Leader Jeong locked his office door and even blocked his fellow detectives from entering. This attitude was criticized for infringing on freedom of the press and attempting to conceal the truth of the case.

The reporters pointed out that the investigation team leader's insincere attitude and refusal to interview further strengthened suspicions of a case cover-up.

This series of events raises serious questions about the transparency and fairness of the police investigation.

Regarding allegations that the mayor's close associates hold key positions, an official rebutted, "If they are close, they go to the audit office or become a township head. Sir, all 5th-grade officials in this area can go anywhere. That is the discretion of the appointing authority."

This is an assertion that appointing close associates is the sole prerogative of the appointing authority. However, despite this explanation, controversy over the appointment of close associates is expected to continue.

Within the police, the principle for allocating complaints and disciplinary actions is that investigations are handled by the relevant investigation division, and disciplinary actions by the audit and inspection division. The police allocation officer explained, "Investigations are handled by the relevant investigation division. Disciplinary actions are handled by the relevant audit."

Investigator replacement is possible, but case transfers are determined according to allocation rules.

This statement emphasizes the procedural legitimacy of case allocation, but in the current Jinan County Mayor case, it is criticized that these principles were not properly observed.

Regarding the allegations of official election interference, the Chief Secretary explained that his attendance at the send-off for the filial piety tour was routine work and unrelated to the mayor's instructions or campaign activities. He said, "Did the mayor ask me to check on something? No, that's not it. It was an activity I routinely undertake, and it was nothing more than meeting the bus."

However, the presenter questioned, "Would the Chief Secretary have reason to independently engage in face-to-face work with residents?"

Despite the Chief Secretary's explanation, allegations of official election interference persist.