'Cheong' Alleged Directed Investigation: Frontline Police Officers Debate Over Hwang Unha's Indictment Document

Investigator Named in Indictment Faces 'Personnel Action'... Divided Opinions
"If True, Interference in Investigation" Criticism
"Tyranny of Concluding and Fitting Facts" Prosecutors Also Criticized
Director Hwang Repeatedly Claims "False and Fabricated Indictment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] As the prosecution indictment against Hwang Un-ha, head of the Police Human Resources Development Institute, who was brought to trial over the 'Cheongwadae political investigation suspicion,' was disclosed through the media, frontline police officers are also becoming unsettled. Along with criticism that personnel actions against investigation practitioners constitute "interference in investigations," voices are emerging pointing out the prosecution's excessive investigation for indicting without investigating the parties involved.

Director Hwang is regarded among frontline police officers as a highly respected senior police official. He took it upon himself to act as a 'speaker' advocating the necessity of the police-prosecutor investigation authority adjustment, a long-standing wish of the police, and was also active in 'Polnetiang,' a group formed by current and former police officers to improve police organizational culture. Notably, after his promotion to Commissioner General and appointment as Chief of the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency in September 2017, he established the first-ever 'Staff Council' among local police agencies nationwide to reflect the opinions of frontline police officers. Due to these series of actions prioritizing the security field, frontline police officers have evaluated Director Hwang as a senior official worthy of respect.

However, with the indictment being made public, such evaluations appear to be shaken. The most controversial part concerns the personnel actions against investigation practitioners. The prosecution stated in the indictment that Director Hwang directly summoned the head of the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency's Intelligent Crime Investigation Unit, the investigation team leader, and team members, who were initially in charge of the investigation, reprimanding them for lacking investigative will, and subsequently issued demotion personnel orders for three people, including the head of the Intelligent Crime Investigation Unit.

The reactions of frontline police officers were mixed. A chief investigator (Inspector) at a metropolitan police station said, "When investigators reach a conclusion on a case, there must be a clear reason," adding, "If the indictment's content is true, it means using personnel authority as a weapon to intervene in investigations rather than directing them." Another police investigator (Lieutenant) said, "The indictment describes the situation at the time, and it seems that frontline police officers who underwent prosecution investigations gave some related statements," adding, "Isn't it unusual for a local police chief to summon even a single investigation team member and reprimand them?"

On the other hand, many expressed the opinion that since the prosecution indicted without even investigating the suspects, the trial should be observed going forward. They also condemned the prosecution's excessive indictment. A patrol team leader (Lieutenant) at a district police station in the Gyeonggi area said, "It doesn't make sense to bring someone to trial without even investigating the parties involved," adding, "I suspect the prosecution concluded first and then tailored the logic." A police officer (Lieutenant) belonging to a local police agency also raised their voice, saying, "How can a commanding officer's personnel action against a police officer judged to be lukewarm in investigation be considered abuse of authority?" and "The prosecution's tyranny is like 'earrings if hung on the ear, nose rings if hung on the nose,' interpreting things arbitrarily."

Director Hwang repeatedly emphasized that the prosecution's indictment was excessive. After completing the interview for the preliminary candidate for the general election at the Democratic Party's nomination management committee the day before, he met with reporters and stated, "It is filled with false facts and fabricated facts. The indictment is a false official document," adding, "The prosecution's unfair investigation and indictment will become an important issue in this election, and the person who knows best whether the indictment is filled with false facts should run in this election."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.