Jeju Police Station Former Union Statement
"Who Should We Trust to Work?"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Regarding the suspect in the murder case of a middle school student in Jeju causing a self-harm disturbance in the detention center, the Jeju Police Workplace Council (Jikhyup) has demanded accountability for the responsible officials and the establishment of measures to prevent recurrence following the order for on-site police officers to enter the detention center and work there.
On the 26th, according to the police, the workplace councils of Jeju Police Agency, Jeju East Police Station, Jeju West Police Station, and Seogwipo Police Station condemned in a joint statement posted on the police internal network, saying, "An unprecedented incident occurred where a police officer was confined together with a murder suspect to prevent the suspect's self-harm."
They raised their voices, saying, "We ask the command: Is monitoring a suspect inside a detention center by a police officer the only method? Do you think such a measure is reasonable? Are employees tools like handcuffs to prevent self-harm? Whom are we supposed to trust and work with?"
They further stated, "The East Police Station Chief, who ignored the human rights of the police officer, should sincerely apologize to the affected employee and prepare special measures such as psychological healing," and urged, "The Jeju Police Agency Chief should clearly investigate the circumstances of this incident and promptly disclose the findings to all employees." They also demanded strict disciplinary action for the mistakes and the strengthening of human rights awareness among the command to prevent recurrence.
On the 22nd at around 1:36 p.m., Baek Mo (48), who was detained in the Jeju East Police Station detention center on suspicion of murdering the middle school son of his former cohabitant, self-harmed. Baek hit his head against the corner of the restroom door, causing bleeding, and was immediately restrained by a guard, treated at a hospital, and then re-detained.
Subsequently, the Jeju East Police Station Chief and department heads held a countermeasure meeting and judged that Baek might self-harm again, ordering affiliated police officers to take turns closely monitoring Baek inside the detention center. Accordingly, from 8 p.m. on the day of the incident until 9 a.m. the next day, police officers worked inside the detention center where Baek was held, each shift lasting three hours.
However, frontline police officers have continued to oppose this. Moreover, claims have emerged that investigative officers without detention center experience were assigned and entered the detention center unarmed, leading to widespread condemnation as a "clear human rights violation." One police officer posted on the internal network, "Employees sat in a dignified posture watching, while the murder suspect lay down and slept comfortably," and questioned, "Can employees who have never worked in a detention center enter and prepare for accidents?"
In this regard, the Police Workplace Council Democratic Council (Gyeongminhyeop) issued a statement expressing great concern that "this incident was carried out through sufficient countermeasure meetings by the station chief and staff," and criticized, "The National Police Agency should review whether the Jeju East Police Station's measures were appropriate, and if errors are found, all involved should be disciplined and criminally prosecuted if laws were violated." The National Police Workplace Council Solidarity also urged, "There must be clear action against those responsible for issuing these orders," and demanded, "Immediately replace the responsible officials and protect the human rights of lower-ranking frontline police officers."
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