'If That's Not a Biased Investigation, What Is?'

When the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee audit criticized the lax investigation into allegations that Rep. Han Dong-hoon's daughter falsified her credentials, Acting National Police Agency Chief Kim Jong-chul said on the 12th that he would not rule out a full reinvestigation if new facts came to light.

Rep. Yoon Geon-young of the Democratic Party pointed out at the audit, held at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, that although police had investigated the case for one year and eight months, they never once conducted a search and seizure. He noted there had been virtually no witness interviews, with the suspect questioned only once in writing, and that no meaningful follow-up measures were taken even after international mutual legal assistance—the process of cooperating with foreign police and courts to gather evidence—fell through.

The hearing also saw a dispute over the fairness of the investigations. Rep. Kang Myung-gu of the People Power Party asked why investigators spent more than 16 hours questioning his colleague Rep. Kim Jae-seop during the audit period, while cases involving figures from the ruling party were pursued with different intensity and speed. "Is it harsh investigations for the opposition and lenient ones for the ruling party?" he asked. Acting Chief Kim responded that police investigate according to law and principle without political consideration. Police explained that Rep. Kim's side set the appearance dates after police proposed splitting the questioning over two days.

Regarding the case involving Rep. Han Dong-hoon's daughter, Acting Chief Kim acknowledged shortcomings in the original investigation and said he would reconsider whether to reopen the case if new facts or complaints or accusations emerge.