South Korean actress Jang Ja-yeon’s suicide probe in 2009 was flawed, says truth panel but doesn't request for reinvestigation
Late South Korean actor Jang Ja-yeon's suicide probe in 2009 was flawed, noted a truth panel on Monday, also alleging that the case could have been influenced by a major newspaper. The actor who accused many high-profile figures of sexually harassing her committed suicide in March 2009, and the truth panel was set up recently after reports that the investigation into her death was influenced.
While the panel concluded that the prosecutor's office had not done the the investigation properly, they stopped short of requesting for a reinvestigation.
According to Korean Herald, Ja-yeon committed suicide in her home and reportedly left behind a note that accused her entertainment agency of forcing her to do sexual favors for 30 men and also making her attend drinking parties.
She was a rookie actor who had appeared in a supporting role in the famous South Korean drama 'Boys Over Flowers'. Her suicide note is believed to have mentioned the name of 30 high-profile figures that she was forced to be with including the head of Chosun Ilbo, a major newspaper.
The truth panel went through a 250-page investigation report that took over eight months to conclude. However, the truth panel said that they couldn't verify the existence of the much talked about list.
The panel also concluded that the prosecution unduly closed the case by not filing charges against certain suspects in the case.
They also noted that the probe by police was also flawed. In August 2009, the prosecution only followed up on the chief of the entertainment agency that Ja-yeon belonged to and her assistant.
The only action that the truth panel has asked to be carried out is a reinvestigation about the chief of Ja-yeon's entertainment agency of perjuring himself as there was not enough evidence to support the other claims made by the later actor.
This panel was set up following the orders of South Korean President Moon Jae-in after news of the Burning Sun scandal broke in February.