'Osong Underpass Disaster' Police Lose Role as Prosecution Launches Full Investigation... Investigation Headquarters Disbanded

The police investigation headquarters formed to investigate the flooding accident at the Gungpyeong2 underpass in Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk Province, is effectively being disbanded. This decision appears to be due to the narrowing role of the police as the prosecution accelerates its investigation with comprehensive raids.

On the afternoon of the 25th, prosecution officials who conducted a search and seizure at the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency are moving the seized items. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 27th, the police investigation headquarters announced, "We will downsize the Gungpyeong2 underpass flooding accident investigation headquarters into a dedicated investigation team and proceed with necessary cooperation."

The police formed a dedicated investigation headquarters at the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency and began the investigation on the 17th, two days after the underpass disaster. After suspicions of inadequate response by the Chungbuk police surfaced, on the 19th, the head of the headquarters was replaced with Kim Byung-chan, head of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the investigation personnel was increased to 138.

However, the atmosphere changed when the Office for Government Policy Coordination detected signs of false reporting by the police during an audit and requested the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to investigate six police officers. The prosecution immediately formed an investigation headquarters led by Bae Yong-won, chief of the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, and on the 24th conducted large-scale raids on about ten locations including the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency, Chungbuk Provincial Government Office, Cheongju City Hall, and Chungbuk Fire Headquarters.

As the prosecution took the lead in the investigation, the role of the police inevitably became limited. The police investigation headquarters explained, "With the prosecution commencing the investigation, the police have consulted with the prosecution regarding the subjects and scope of the investigation," adding, "To prevent delays and inefficiencies caused by overlapping investigations, overlapping parts of police investigation cases will be transferred, and a close cooperative system will be maintained between both parties."

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