Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency (left), is responding to questions from lawmakers regarding the "Partial Amendment to the Police Officer Duty Execution Act," which includes provisions guaranteeing police immunity, at the plenary meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 29th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The partial amendment bill to the Police Officer Duty Execution Act, which stipulates the 'immunity privilege' of police officers, passed the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on the 29th.
The amendment includes provisions that if a police officer causes harm to others while performing duties to protect a person's life and body, and if the duty performance was unavoidable and the officer had no intent or gross negligence, the criminal responsibility may be mitigated or exempted considering the circumstances.
Following the controversy over the police's inadequate response in the recent Incheon inter-floor noise stabbing incident, there were increasing calls for the necessity of immunity privilege provisions to ensure swift and strict law enforcement by the police.
The amendment passed without significant objections at the Public Administration and Security Committee's bill review subcommittee on the 25th, and was immediately approved at the full committee meeting on the same day, moving on to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
At the full committee meeting, Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, who attended, said, "I sincerely thank the Public Administration and Security Committee for approving this important legal amendment that can be a great support to on-site police officers during truly difficult and challenging times," and added, "We will prepare without any setbacks."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
