Minister Jung Sung-ho of the Ministry of Justice on the 7th addressed criticism that the initial police investigation into the assault-and-death case of the late film director Kim Chang-min was inadequate, saying, "The Ministry of Justice will ensure that not a single shred of injustice remains for the deceased victim and the bereaved family."
The Minister wrote on Facebook that day, "By thoroughly shoring up the first-stage investigation, we will fully uncover the facts of the case and reveal the substantive truth so that stern punishment follows for the perpetrators," adding this.
The Minister said, "The prosecution (Namyangju District Office of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office) swiftly formed a dedicated team and launched a supplementary investigation after receiving the case from the Guri Police Station on April 2, in order to thoroughly uncover the full picture of the incident and bring the related perpetrators before the judgment of the law."
He said, "Because of shortcomings in the initial investigation, an event occurred that caused great pain to the bereaved family and the public," adding, "The bereaved point out deficiencies in the first response, noting that although at least six people in the perpetrator's group appear on CCTV at the time of the assault, only one person was sent to the prosecution as a suspect, and only after protests by the family and the prosecution's request for supplementary investigation was one more person finally identified."
Director Kim was assaulted at about 1:10 a.m. on Oct. 20 last year at a restaurant in Sutaek-dong, Guri, Gyeonggi. At the time, Kim went to the restaurant because his son, who has autistic traits, said he wanted to eat pork cutlet, and it is known that a dispute over noise with other customers led to a scuffle. Kim was transported to a nearby hospital in about an hour but did not regain consciousness. He was declared brain-dead on Nov. 7 last year and died after donating his organs.
Police sought an arrest warrant for a person surnamed A who assaulted Director Kim, but the prosecution returned it, requesting supplementation. Following the bereaved family's request and the prosecution's call for additional investigation, police again sought arrest warrants on charges of injury causing death for two people, including A.
The Namyangju branch of the Uijeongbu District Court dismissed the warrants, saying, "There is a fixed residence and no risk of evidence destruction." Police referred A to the prosecution without detention.