'Report Deletion Suspicion' Yongsan Information Chief: "I Will Respond Sincerely to the Investigation"

Kim Mo, former intelligence chief of Yongsan Police Station, who was booked on suspicion of deleting the Halloween period risk analysis report, is answering questions from reporters as he appears before the Police Agency Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) on the 15th. Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Jo, Gyumin Oh] Kim, a police superintendent and former head of the intelligence division at Yongsan Police Station, who was booked on suspicion of deleting a risk analysis report during the Halloween period, appeared before the Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters (SIH) on the 15th.

At around 1:55 p.m., Superintendent Kim arrived at the Mapo Police Station in Seoul, where the SIH is located, stating, "I will answer sincerely during the investigation." He entered the building without responding to reporters' questions such as "Do you admit to ordering the deletion of the intelligence report?" and "Did you receive instructions from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency?" He is being investigated as a suspect by the SIH, and the investigation is expected to continue until late afternoon.

This is the first investigation of a suspect conducted by the SIH since its launch on the 1st. Over two weeks, the SIH booked seven individuals, including Superintendent Kim, on charges such as professional negligence resulting in death or injury. Along with former intelligence section chief Sergeant Jeong, Superintendent Kim faces additional charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of evidence. According to the SIH, Superintendent Kim is suspected of deleting the Halloween festival risk analysis report, which was prepared by the intelligence officer at Yongsan Police Station three days before the Itaewon tragedy, from his office PC, and of coercing and persuading staff during this process.

After completing the investigation of Superintendent Kim, the SIH plans to summon Park Seongmin, former head of the Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (Senior Superintendent), as a witness. Park is suspected of instructing intelligence division chiefs at frontline police stations, including Yongsan, via a messenger chatroom to "delete intelligence reports according to regulations in preparation for inspections and raids." The SIH will decide whether to book Park after the investigation.

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