The National Parents' Association for People with Disabilities held a full-body prostration protest in front of the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday, condemning allegations of a botched investigation into the assault death of the late film director Kim Chang-min.
About 150 participants wore white T-shirts bearing Kim's image, chanted slogans including "Severely punish those responsible for the sloppy investigation" and "Protect families with developmental disabilities," then repeatedly prostrated themselves on the ground 100 times. Including these participants, approximately 300 people attended the rally.
Kim's father, Kim Sang-chul, took the stage and said, "I witnessed the police's downplaying, cover-up, and delays with my own eyes. I hope no more wrongful deaths like this will occur."
After completing the prostration protest, the group submitted a criminal complaint to police against the former chief of Guri Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, the detective in charge, and the officers who responded to the scene, alleging dereliction of duty.
Director Kim visited a restaurant in Guri early on the morning of October 20 last year with his son, who has developmental disabilities. He was punched and collapsed during an altercation with another customer over noise and other issues.
Kim was transported to a nearby hospital about an hour later but never regained consciousness. He was declared brain dead on November 7 last year and died after donating his organs to give new life to four people.
Controversy over the allegedly botched police investigation erupted after an arrest warrant for the assailant was rejected. The Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency launched an internal inspection, and the prosecution, which took over the case, has also formed a dedicated team to investigate.
Director Kim directed films including "Nobody'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."
