“Police Who Covered for Seungri Behind the Scenes” Citizens’ Committee Reports “Burning Sun Police Chief” Yoon Gyu-geun to Prosecution
A civic group reported senior superintendent Yoon gyu-geun to the prosecution for allegedly covering up the police investigation into the Burning Sun scandal
On July 11th, the Citizens’ Committee for Civil Rights and Public Livelihoods (hereafter referred to as the “Citizens’ Committee”) announced that they had filed a complaint against Superintendent Yoon Gyu-geun on July 10th, accusing him of abuse of power, violation of the Anti-Graft Act and influence peddling.
The complaint reportedly includes allegations that Yoon suppressed the police investigation during the 2019 Burning Sun scandal, which involved numerous celebrities.
The Citizens’ Committee also stated in the complaint that Yoon had meals and played golf with Seungri and officials from Yuri Holdings while working at the Blue House’s Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Office in July 2017. They claimed that his actions, which allegedly involved protecting Seungri and interfering with the investigation, constituted abuse of power.
Along with Yoon, the committee also filed complaints against Lee Jae-hoon, then-chief of the Seoul Gangnam Police Station, and Min Gap-ryong, then-commissioner of the National Police Agency, for allegedly reducing the scope of the investigation due to external pressure from higher-ups.
Yoon was known as the “police chief” in the KakaoTalk group chat involving Seungri and Jung Joon-young during the Burning Sun incident, raising suspicions of collusion between celebrities and the police. He was indicted for allegedly receiving stocks in exchange for information on police crackdowns and covering up evidence during the investigation.
However, in 2021, the Supreme Court found Yoon guilty only of some charges, including evidence tampering and violating the Capital Markets Act, and confirmed a fine of 20 million won. Although Yoon was suspended for three months, he retained his police position.
Yoon, who had been relieved of his duties due to the Burning Sun scandal, resumed working at the Songpa Police Station earlier this year.
On June 12th last year, the Citizens’ Committee also reported Yoon for allegedly receiving alcohol bribes from employees and coercing female employees to join karaoke gatherings during his tenure as chief of the General Affairs Department from July 2021. Additionally, they accused him of obstructing departmental transfers based on personal requests.
