Human Rights Commission: "Police Officers Must Identify Themselves While Performing Duties"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] The National Human Rights Commission pointed out on the 13th that police officers need to immediately present identification if a stakeholder requests identity verification during the performance of their duties.

The Human Rights Commission announced that it expressed this opinion to the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency on the same day. The Commission explained, "There have been cases where police officers refuse to comply with identity verification requests on the grounds that there is no obligation to present identification during administrative police duties such as traffic enforcement and breathalyzer tests," adding, "We believe that appropriate legal interpretation and improvement of practical practices are necessary to guarantee the public's right to know."

Earlier, the Commission received a complaint from a citizen who was stopped for running a red light near their residence and requested the police officer to present identification, but the request was denied, infringing on their right to know. In response to this complaint, the police officer explained, "According to the 'National Police Agency Traffic Enforcement Guidelines,' I saluted and greeted, then identified my affiliated police station and role as a traffic police officer, and explained the traffic violation."

The Commission determined that although the police officer did not present identification, it could not be considered a violation of the complainant's right to know, and dismissed the case. The basis for this judgment included ▲ the fact that the obligation to present identification under the Police Duty Execution Act applies only to random inspections, and ▲ the officer was wearing a uniform and performing duties in a traffic patrol car, making it clear to anyone that they were a police officer.

Nevertheless, the Commission judged that "it is a necessary procedure for public officials to present identification during the exercise of public authority to prevent excessive law enforcement and to guarantee the public's right to know." It also pointed out that while the 'Police Duty Execution Act' stipulates the obligation for police officers to present identification during random inspections, there are no related regulations regarding other administrative police duties.