Police's footage leak of murder suspect causes anger

Police officers apprehend murder suspect Koh Yoo-jung at the parking lot of her apartment in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in this video footage shot June 1. A ranking police officer leaked the footage to the media against internal regulations concerning investigations. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

A senior police officer on Jeju Island leaked a video clip to the media, which showed footage of murder suspect Koh Yoo-jung being taken into custody last month.

The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) has launched an internal investigation into the matter, as disclosing such videos is against internal rules on investigations as well as public relations affairs.

The agency said Monday it was questioning the former chief of Jeju Dongbu Police Station, Park Ki-nam, who was in charge of the murder investigation, for handing over the video clip to a local newspaper and a broadcaster.

Koh has been indicted for killing her ex-husband at a vacation house on Jeju, dismembering him and disposing of the body parts at multiple locations.

In the clip, detectives approach Koh at the parking lot of her apartment in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, June 1. The video shows them handcuffing her while telling her they were detaining her on suspicion of killing her ex-husband. She is surprised and responds: “Why? I never did such a thing. I am the victim.”

According to police regulations, officers are not allowed to reveal any details related to investigations in order to ensure information remains secure, and to protect the privacy and human rights of the people concerned.

However, senior officers can share information in exceptional circumstances including to prevent another crime from happening, and to halt false or speculative reporting that could possibly infringe on the rights and interests of the people involved.

The KNPA believe Park's leak of the clip does not meet the requirements of the latter exceptions. Police said the former chief, who had been demoted and transferred to another department at Jeju Provincial Police Agency over his handling of the case, handed over the footage to friends in the particular media outlets.

Park admitted that he provided video clips on two occasions; once when he was head of the Jeju Dongbu Police Station and again after his July 27 transfer.

He claimed he revealed the footage to let people know about the murder case and to refute criticism that police took insufficient action in its early stages.

Park added that he did not think this violated the internal regulations but if it did, he will accept any reprimand from the KNPA.

Internal affairs officers are investigating how Park obtained the videos after his demotion from station head to a lower position at the provincial agency.

KNPA Commissioner General Min Gap-ryong said during a press conference Monday that he was awaiting the official results of the internal investigation before taking any appropriate measures.

“We will find out if it was appropriate to provide the footage. If it was improper, we will take all necessary actions,” he said.