At the same audit, the ruling party decried 'favoritism' while the opposition cried 'persecution'
At the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 15th, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties criticized the police over investigations into politicians, with the Democratic Party of Korea accusing it of "go-easy investigations" and the People Power Party of "biased investigations," while the police maintained that they investigate according to the law and principle.
Democratic Party Rep. Lee Hae-sik pointed out that despite three deaths and three injuries in the collapse of the Sosomun High School annex, officials from Seoul city, the contracting authority, remain witnesses rather than suspects. Seoul Police Commissioner Ko Beom-seok said he would review converting the case into a suspect investigation.
Rep. Yoon Kun-young of the same party noted that, regarding suspicions of budget support for the National Security Office by the National Intelligence Service, a year has nearly passed since the complaint was filed, yet only the NIS has been investigated, with no questioning of former First Vice Director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo or former NIS Director Kim Kyu-hyun. Commissioner Ko replied that the case was under investigation.
The People Power Party raised bias in the opposite direction. Rep. Kang Myung-gu pointed out that independent Rep. Kim Byung-kee's questioning was halted after five hours due to complaints of back pain, while Rep. Kim Jae-sub was questioned for 16 hours and 46 minutes on the 6th. "Why is it so different?" Kang said. "That is why the opposition keeps criticizing it as a biased investigation, as persecution of the opposition."
Commissioner Ko explained that Rep. Kim Byung-kee had been questioned multiple times and Rep. Kim Jae-sub's session was long because he faced multiple allegations. Kim Jae-sub's questioning time included breaks and time to review the transcript, and a consent form for late-night questioning was obtained, with the session conducted in the presence of his attorney, he said.
Rep. Kwon Young-jin of the same party also questioned the case assignments in the cross-complaints between Rep. Kim Jae-sub and former Seongdong District Mayor Jung Won-oh related to the Seoul mayoral election. He noted that the case against former Mayor Jung was assigned to Seongdong Police Station while the case against Rep. Kim was assigned to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, raising suspicions. Commissioner Ko replied, "Both cases were initially assigned to Dobong and Seongdong stations respectively, but the case involving Rep. Kim was transferred back to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency after being reported to multiple police stations," adding, "We will investigate both cases strictly in accordance with the law and principle."
