Sookmyung Women's University Professor Assaulted by Colleagues, Current Police Officer Accused of 'Investigation Cover-up'

Dispute Among Fellow Professors
Assault Case Reported but Closed Without Charges
Complaint Includes "Investigating Officer's Biased Investigation" Allegation

Professor A of Sookmyung Women's University, who claimed to have been assaulted by colleagues, has filed a complaint against two active police officers. The reason cited was biased investigation by the officers during the case inquiry.

On the 15th, the complaint obtained by this publication contains allegations of a cover-up in the assault case involving a Sookmyung Women's University professor by the investigation officer at Yongsan Police Station in Seoul. The complaint states that Professor A was assaulted by fellow professors during the 2022 doctoral program evaluation period at the College of Music after discovering their corrupt practices and raising concerns, and that the case was closed with no charges due to biased investigations by two police officers in charge.

Professor A stated regarding the assault incident, "Professors Park (last name) and Ji (last name) from the Vocal Music Department secretly changed the announced public performance venue and created fabricated pamphlets to give preferential treatment for a specific Chinese international student’s doctoral degree. The assault occurred during the process of raising this issue." He added, "I sustained injuries including a left shoulder joint sprain that required about three weeks of treatment." He further explained, "I submitted all evidence to Yongsan Police Station, including the assault complaint, photos of the crime scene, audio recordings, and medical certificates, but after eight months of investigation, the officers in charge closed the case with no charges in June last year."

Professor A claimed that although eyewitnesses present at the scene gave detailed statements during the victim testimony investigation, the investigating officers deliberately ignored them and only began the investigation five months after the incident. He said, “The investigators dismissed even the medical certificates of the injuries treated at the time and neglected any investigation,” and added, “During the supplementary investigation by the prosecution, it was discovered that the two accused professors replaced witnesses of the assault with foreign international students who were not present at the scene, presenting them as false witnesses.” He also stated that the two accused professors conspired to exclude him from the doctoral degree evaluation committee for the Chinese international student, which was recognized as obstruction of business, and each was fined 10 million won.

Yongsan Police Station responded, “It seems inappropriate to comment while the investigation is still ongoing,” and added, “If the accused police officers are later found innocent, appropriate relief procedures will be taken.” The complaint is currently assigned to Mapo Police Station, where the investigation is underway.