Yoon Hee-geun "Investigation Head Witness Appearance... Concerned It May Become a Political Controversy"

Woo Cheol-moon, Busan Cheong Chief, Expresses Concern Over National Assembly Witness Adoption
Controversy Over Police Investigation Fairness Damage

Police Chief Yoon Hee-geun expressed concerns regarding the adoption of the investigation commander of a specific case as a witness by the National Assembly.

On the 22nd, during a press briefing held at the National Police Agency, Chief Yoon stated, “The National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee adopted Woo Cheol-moon, Chief of the Busan Police Agency, as a witness. This is unprecedented and concerning when considering the future.”

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is delivering a public statement regarding the stabbing incident on the afternoon of the 4th at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Chief Yoon said, “Chief Woo is a kind of investigation officer in charge, and I am very concerned about summoning him as a witness in this manner to question whether the investigation was conducted properly,” adding, “It is regrettable that the police are becoming a subject of political debate.”

Earlier, on the 16th, the Democratic Party of Korea passed a motion at the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee to summon Chief Woo and Kim Hyuk-soo, head of the Government Coordination Office’s Anti-Terrorism Center, as witnesses regarding the attack on Representative Lee Jae-myung. The Democratic Party stated, “Despite this being an assassination attempt on the leader of the main opposition party and a serious challenge to democracy, the police concluded the case with a poor investigation.”

Accordingly, Chief Woo must attend the full meeting of the Public Administration and Security Committee on the 25th. According to the National Assembly Witness and Examination Act, failure to appear without a valid reason may result in imprisonment for up to three years or a fine between 10 million and 30 million won. Even if a reason for absence is submitted, the National Assembly may enforce compulsory attendance (escort order) as necessary. In cases of false testimony, imprisonment from one to ten years is also possible following a National Assembly prosecution.

In this context, concerns have been raised that the fairness of the police investigation could be compromised. If an investigation official appears before the National Assembly to explain specific investigation details, there is a possibility of violating the “crime of disclosing suspect information.” Chief Yoon’s statement on this day is interpreted as being mindful of such controversies.

Meanwhile, Chief Yoon also expressed regret over the court’s guilty verdict against police officers involved in a case where an intoxicated person, whom the officers escorted home, died in the cold wave.

On the 14th, the Seoul Northern District Court issued summary orders of fines of 5 million won and 4 million won respectively to Sergeant A and Corporal B of the Mia Precinct of the Gangbuk Police Station in Seoul, who were indicted on charges of professional negligence causing death.

In November 2022, they responded to a report that “an intoxicated person was lying on the roadside,” and placed a heavily intoxicated man in his 60s on the outdoor stairs of a multi-family house in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, then left the scene. The man was found dead the same morning. At that time, a cold wave warning was issued in Seoul, with a minimum temperature of -8.1 degrees Celsius recorded.

Regarding this, Chief Yoon said, “I feel sorry and have repeatedly apologized to my colleagues at the scene, but the issue of intoxicated persons is beyond what the police alone can handle,” emphasizing, “Since it is clear that on-site officers face difficulties and limitations in judging the situation, a groundbreaking solution at the national level must be introduced.”

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