President Lee Jae Myung called for police reforms after a series of violent crimes raised questions about police capabilities as they assume greater investigative powers under an overhaul of the criminal justice system.
Speaking at a ceremony marking National Police Day in Seoul, Lee stressed that the police force must confront shortcomings in its response to violent crimes and demonstrate tangible improvements to regain public trust.
“Public trust cannot be restored through words alone,” Lee said at a ceremony on Wednesday. “There must be painstaking efforts to bring about change, demonstrate improvements on the ground, and ensure that the public can actually feel the difference.”
“The police must take seriously the fact that recent cases of relationship violence, along with seemingly random attacks on strangers, have shaken public trust in law enforcement and heightened public anxiety,” Lee added.
A string of violent crimes in South Korea earlier this month has raised questions about police protection of people at risk.
In Seoul, a man under investigation for domestic violence allegedly killed his mother-in-law and abducted his estranged wife after a restraining order expired. In Jeju, a woman was killed by her former partner despite repeatedly reporting him to police and carrying a police-issued emergency smartwatch. In a separate knife attack in Incheon, the suspect was wearing an electronic ankle monitor and had previously served prison time for attempting to murder his former wife.
South Korea's criminal justice system will undergo its most sweeping overhaul since the prosecution service was established in 1948. As investigative powers will be transferred from prosecutors to the police, many question how the police will be held accountable for their expanded authority.
“As our criminal justice system, which has been in place for more than 70 years, undergoes a sweeping overhaul, we must bear in mind that the police’s powers, greater than ever before, also come with greater responsibilities,” Lee said.
Lee underscored that the police “must take a hard look at what has been lacking and undertake reforms to boldly correct flawed practices and institutions.”
While acknowledging the dedication of officers who faithfully carried out their duties, Lee warned that misconduct and inadequate responses to crimes could damage the reputation of the entire police force.
“Even so, we must remain mindful that misconduct by a few and inadequate responses can undermine the trust and reputation of the entire organization,” he said.
Lee laid out a series of reform priorities, calling for stronger democratic oversight, independent scrutiny of police investigations and greater protections for crime victims.
“I ask you to establish democratic oversight and accountability commensurate with your expanded investigative powers,” he said. “Improper outside interference must be prevented, but the investigative process and its outcomes must be rigorously scrutinized.”
Lee called for strengthening the National Police Commission’s role and establishing mechanisms to independently review police investigations. He also urged police to put victims’ rights at the center of their investigative work, particularly those of women, children and people with disabilities.
“Protection of crime victims must be firmly established as a core principle of police investigations,” he said.
Lee further called for the establishment of a subcommittee for socially vulnerable groups within the police investigation review committee, describing it as part of a commitment to the public that must be fulfilled.
He stressed that “the police must work closely with relevant agencies, including the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and take all necessary measures to ensure that the absence of supplementary investigative powers does not create investigative gaps or cause harm to the public.”
The president placed particular emphasis on preventing violence before it occurs rather than responding only after victims have been harmed.
“We must make a fundamental shift from responding after the fact to preventing crimes in advance when it comes to stalking and other relationship violence, as well as indiscriminate attacks against strangers,” Lee said.
“Careful attention that does not overlook even the smallest warning signs, along with action taken one step ahead, can prevent greater harm,” he said.
Lee also called for tougher enforcement against financial crimes, including housing rental scams, investment fraud and the fraudulent receipt of government subsidies.
“No one should be able to evade the law because they are powerful, nor should anyone be treated unfairly because they are weak,” Lee said.
dagyumji@heraldcorp.com