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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook Calls for External Police Reform Amid Scandal

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook indicated that police reform should be driven by external forces, not solely internal efforts, due to deeply ingrained issues.
  • The call for reform follows a scandal involving the alleged false closure of a missing person case in Jeju.
  • Han emphasized the need to overhaul the police's organizational culture and operational methods, promising swift action on establishing a reform body.

Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook has signaled a strong push for external reform of the police force, directly addressing the fallout from the "Jeju Missing Person Case" scandal. "Is it possible to reform from within?" Han questioned reporters on August 27, suggesting that genuine reform requires public trust and therefore cannot be solely an internal endeavor. She indicated that a reform body would likely need to operate independently of the police organization itself.

Is it possible to reform from within? Reform must come up with measures that anyone can understand.

— Han Myeong-sookExpressing doubt about the efficacy of purely internal police reform.

President Lee Jae-myung had previously instructed the Prime Minister's office to devise a plan for a police reform committee. In response, Han met with senior police officials, including acting Police Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong, to convey the urgency of the situation. She highlighted how current police practices are "unacceptable" even to ordinary citizens and are causing internal concern, underscoring the need for significant change.

"The overall organizational culture of the police needs to be reformed or changed," Han stated, emphasizing that the "procedures, sequences, and methods" of handling cases are "too serious" and require fundamental correction. When asked about the timeline for the reform body's establishment, she expressed confidence that an announcement could be made "in the near future" as the process has now begun.

The way cases are handled is too unacceptable even for ordinary citizens, and even within the police, there are concerns about how such things could happen.

— Han Myeong-sookHighlighting the severity of the issues leading to the reform push.

The scandal has cast a shadow over the credibility of South Korea's 130,000-strong police force. Reports surrounding the Jeju case, including allegations of a "false closure" and questionable handling of information, have fueled public demand for accountability and systemic change within the police. The Prime Minister's firm stance suggests a commitment to addressing these deep-seated issues head-on, aiming to restore public confidence in law enforcement.

The overall organizational culture of the police needs to be reformed or changed.

— Han Myeong-sookStating the broad scope of the necessary reforms.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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