Victim's Side Repeatedly Demanded Punishment, but Investigation Was Inadequate
Police Agency: "Internal Audit Underway"
Eunmi Kang, Chief of Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, bowed her head to the victims and their families while expressing an official apology regarding the so-called 'Dongtan Abduction and Murder' case on the afternoon of the 28th at the 2nd conference room of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News
The police have issued an official apology to the bereaved family in connection with a case in which a man in his 30s, who had previously been separated from his ex-girlfriend due to acts of violence, tracked down the victim, abducted and murdered her, and then took his own life. The victim had submitted audio recordings and documents detailing previous incidents of abuse and requested an investigation into the perpetrator. However, the police failed to prepare the necessary documents for an arrest warrant and neglected the case, ultimately failing to prevent the victim's death.
On May 28, Eunmi Kang, Chief of Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, made an official statement regarding the so-called 'Dongtan abduction and murder' case at the 2nd conference room of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in Jangan-gu, Suwon.
Chief Kang stated, "I express my deepest condolences to the deceased and offer my sincere apologies and sympathy to the bereaved family. I also apologize to the public for causing concern." She continued, "The victim repeatedly appealed for punishment of the perpetrator and for protection through multiple 112 emergency calls and by filing complaints, but appropriate measures were not taken. In this regard, an internal investigation by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency is currently underway."
She also explained the findings of the internal investigation conducted by the police station so far. Chief Kang said, "At the time of the initial 112 emergency call (September 9, 2024), and during subsequent monitoring, we confirmed that there had been ongoing assaults in the past. Nevertheless, the case was closed lightly without a comprehensive review, based solely on the victim's statement that she did not wish to press charges. During the second 112 call (February 23, 2025), the case was closed at the scene based on the victim's statement that it was a simple argument, but there was treatment akin to torture after the police officers left."
Eunmi Kang, Chief of Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, expressed an official apology to the victims and bereaved families regarding the so-called 'Dongtan abduction and murder' case on the afternoon of the 28th at the 2nd conference room of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News
She added, "After the third 112 call (March 3, 2025), the victim submitted a complaint and audio recordings and informed us of the perpetrator's attempts to approach her. However, we failed to take additional safety measures because we overlooked the seriousness of the crime and the risk of reoffending by the perpetrator, and the investigation was not conducted promptly."
Chief Kang pointed out that the most regrettable aspect of the case was the handling of the investigation after the third 112 call and the subsequent filing of the complaint, stating that she would accept any disciplinary action following the investigation. She said, "Even after receiving a supplementary complaint of about 600 pages, we did not investigate promptly, and there were multiple omissions in reporting to management. Although we decided to apply for an arrest warrant, it was never actually submitted, which is the most distressing and regrettable part."
It was reported that the head of the relevant department at Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station ordered a review of the arrest warrant application on April 28, but the officer in charge suddenly took a leave of absence on May 1, and the handover of duties was not properly carried out.
Chief Kang stated, "As the chief of the police station, I feel a deep sense of responsibility," and added, "Taking this incident as a lesson, we are conducting a comprehensive review of all ongoing cases to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents, and we are also re-examining victim protection measures."
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