Ministry of Personnel Management: "Disciplinary Action Against Police for Mishandling Jeong-in Case Is Justified"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] The Ministry of Personnel Management has dismissed the appeals filed by nine police officers who contested the disciplinary actions imposed for the inadequate investigation of the 'Jeong-in case.'

According to materials received on the 18th from the office of Kwon Young-se, a member of the People Power Party, the Ministry of Personnel Management held an appeal review committee meeting the previous day and made this decision.

The Ministry stated, "We found the disciplinary committee's judgment to be appropriate and therefore decided to dismiss the appeals," adding, "Typically, the results of appeal reviews are only notified to the appellant and the respondent, but due to the public interest in this case, we are informing the public in the interest of the right to know."

The appeal review system is a type of administrative adjudication where public officials can challenge disciplinary actions or other unfavorable decisions made against their will.

Previously, the police imposed a three-month suspension on three individuals, including the team leader responsible for handling the third report of the Jeong-in case, and two Abuse Prevention Officers (APOs). It is also known that the chief of Yangcheon Police Station and department and section chiefs received disciplinary actions of reprimand and three-month suspension, respectively.

Jeong-in was adopted early last year and died in October due to abuse by her adoptive parents. Despite three reports of child abuse from the surrounding community before her death, the police and child protection agencies failed to find evidence and returned her to the adoptive parents.