President Lee criticizes police for lax discipline, calls for reform

President Lee Jae-myung has sharply criticized the police force, citing "severe problems with lax discipline and irresponsibility," and has called for a thorough consideration of police reform. The president's strong remarks come in the wake of recent controversial police responses to several high-profile incidents.

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The problems of lax discipline and irresponsibility in the police are quite serious.

Specifically, the president's directive follows public outcry over the police's handling of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Jang Yun-gi case, where allegations of evidence tampering by a senior police official's father and inadequate investigation have surfaced. Additionally, the police's initial dismissal of the Jeju Jang Mi-ran missing person report, which was later found to be erroneous after her body was discovered, has fueled public concern. The recent murder of a wife by a former police officer in Jeju has further intensified scrutiny on the police force.

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The police are a very important state organizational structure based on command and obedience, and command responsibility is very important.

President Lee emphasized that issues within the police force are not new but require continuous efforts to minimize problems and systemic adjustments. He highlighted the critical importance of command responsibility within the police's hierarchical structure, questioning the effectiveness of holding only frontline staff accountable without addressing the failures of leadership. "If there are mistakes by the person in charge, the frontline staff, should it end with the punishment of that frontline staff?" he asked, stressing that commensurate responsibility must accompany authority.

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As power concentrates, problems tend to grow larger. Therefore, responsibility must be strengthened in proportion to the size of the authority.

Expressing concern over the growing power of the police, which he anticipates will become the most influential state agency, President Lee urged the Prime Minister's Office to take the lead in contemplating police reform. He specifically requested consideration of establishing a dedicated body for police reform and a broad solicitation of public opinion to shape the direction of these changes. The president stressed that as power concentrates, problems tend to magnify, and therefore, responsibility must be strengthened in proportion to the extent of authority wielded.

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I ask that you consider how to reform the police, and I ask that the Prime Minister's Office take the lead in contemplating a police reform body.