The Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency said Wednesday it has launched an internal inspection into the controversial handling of the involuntary manslaughter case involving the late film director Kim Chang-min.
The agency said it is simultaneously conducting a general inspection examining the appropriateness of the on-scene response and an investigative inspection reviewing the overall case procedures.
Police have been summoning officials from the Guri Police Station who were involved in the initial dispatch and investigation since last week to verify the facts.
Kim visited a restaurant in Guri with his son, who has a developmental disability, in the early hours of October 20 last year. He got into a dispute with another customer over noise and was punched and knocked down.
Kim was transported to a nearby hospital approximately one hour later. He never regained consciousness and was declared brain-dead on November 7 last year. He donated his organs, giving new life to four people, before passing away.
Police applied for an arrest warrant for the male suspect, identified only as "A," who assaulted Kim, but prosecutors returned it requesting supplementary investigation.
Police subsequently re-applied for arrest warrants against A and one other person on charges of involuntary manslaughter through assault, incorporating the bereaved family's requests and the supplementary investigation demanded by prosecutors. However, the Namyangju branch of the Uijeongbu District Court rejected the warrants, citing that the suspects "have fixed residences and there is no risk of evidence destruction."
Police then referred the case to prosecutors without detention. The bereaved family expressed outrage, saying every step from the initial response after the assault to the punishment of the suspects was inadequate.
Kim directed films including "Someone's Daughter," which won the Best Director award at the 2016 Police Human Rights Film Festival, as well as "Guui Station Exit 3," "Boiler," and "Reply."