The 55-year-old intelligence chief, identified only by the surname Jeong, was found by a family member at his home in Seoul just before 1 p.m., Yonhap news agency reported. He appeared to have threatened to kill himself in text messages sent Thursday to colleagues at the Yongsan police station, the state news agency reported. It came as the death toll rose to 157 on Friday after a crushed soldier was pronounced dead, Yonhap also reported. Of the nearly 200 also injured, 11 remain in hospitals, officials told the agency. Jeong had been accused of deleting intelligence reports warning of serious security concerns as at least 100,000 people flocked to the popular Itaewon nightlife district ahead of the Oct. 29 mass tragedy. The policeman was found dead on Friday, the same day the death toll rose to 157.REUTERS Transcripts of emergency calls, released earlier this month, showed a hotline received 11 reports of dangerous overcrowding almost four hours before the horror unfolded. However, no action was taken. The dead were mostly young women, including a handful of teenagers and 26 foreign nationals. National Police Chief Commissioner Yoon Hee-keun told lawmakers that the intelligence chief at Yongsan Station had ordered the files to be deleted and would be investigated. Agence France-Presse via Getty Images The police officer who died of an apparent suicide on Friday is accused of deleting intelligence reports warning of serious security concerns as at least 100,000 people flocked to the area. AFP via Getty Images The Halloween crash is one of the worst tragedies in recent South Korean history. Lee Jae-Won/AFLO/Shutterstock National Police Chief Commissioner Yoon Hee-keun told lawmakers that the intelligence chief at Yongsan Station had ordered the files to be deleted and would be investigated. Some of these lawmakers called for his arrest and punishment. He faced possible charges including abuse of power, destruction of evidence and professional negligence resulting in death, Yonhap said. Jeong’s death was now part of a separate investigation, police confirmed to the agency. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org. With Post cables
