'Closure of Prostitution Districts' by Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency... This Year, They Speak Through Investigations

Suwon City Also Presents Plaque of Appreciation
Handles Cases Involving Ruling and Opposition Presidential Candidates
This Year Foretells a 'Year of Investigation'

Choi Seung-ryeol, Chief of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Jo and Byeongdon Yoo] The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency's selection as the highest S grade in last year's city and provincial police agency performance evaluation is attributed to its security activities within its jurisdiction, including the closure of prostitution districts. This year, the "weight of the scale" is shifting to the realm of investigations, making it highly likely that future investigation results will become the standard for evaluation.

After former Chief Kim Won-jun took office at the beginning of last year, the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency conducted unprecedented investigations into prostitution establishments in its jurisdiction. Rather than one-time crackdowns, they carried out search and seizure operations on prostitution businesses and initiated forced investigations. During this process, a family operating prostitution establishments was arrested, and the illegal profits they earned were frozen. As a result, they succeeded in erasing the red-light district that had colored the area around Suwon Station, known as the gateway to southern Gyeonggi for over 60 years. The local community also responded positively. Suwon City evaluated the closure of the prostitution district as last year's greatest achievement and presented a plaque of appreciation to former Chief Kim, who led the related investigations. Former Chief Kim retired in December last year, and his position has now been succeeded by Chief Choi Seung-ryeol.

If last year under former Chief Kim was a "year of security achievements," this year under Chief Choi is expected to be a "year of investigations." The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency currently houses all the major cases attracting public attention. In particular, it is handling cases indirectly or directly involving presidential candidates from both ruling and opposition parties. These include the complaint case related to Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate; allegations of illegal gambling and prostitution involving Lee’s eldest son; and the preferential treatment suspicion in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development project related to the family of Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate. Investigations into preferential treatment suspicions in the Seongnam Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development projects are also underway. At a briefing held the day before his first day in office, Chief Choi stated, "Regardless of which candidate it is, we plan to calmly proceed with the investigations." The full-scale investigation is expected to begin after the presidential election. Chief Choi said, "The police will not do anything that could be misunderstood as compromising the neutrality of investigations or influencing the election related to the presidential election," adding, "It can be said that the investigations will proceed more meaningfully after the election."

The will to investigate is clear. The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency is supporting the Bundang Police Station, which is conducting supplementary investigations into the Seongnam FC sponsorship fund allegations, by dispatching three officers from the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit to form a separate investigation team. Chief Choi said, "We will conclude the investigation cleanly so that the case is not overturned," and added, "If this time the conclusion is also no indictment, we will investigate to the extent that we can explain the reasons appropriately." Investigation Chief Kim Kwang-sik also emphasized, "The Bundang Police Station situation cannot be ignored by the agency, so we are supporting personnel from the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit to ensure the investigation proceeds," and stressed, "There should be no further questions about the police’s will to investigate."