Deployment of Safety Personnel at Community Centers to Protect Civil Service Officers

Ministry of the Interior and Safety Holds 3rd Central-Local Policy Council Meeting
Discusses Follow-up Measures for the Enforcement of the Dog Meat Consumption Ban Law
Local Governments Cooperate in Preparation for the 22nd General Election

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and local governments will establish measures such as equipping safety equipment to protect public officials from malicious civil complaints. They will also take follow-up actions regarding the 'Dog Meat Consumption Termination Act' passed last February.

On the 27th, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min held the '3rd Central-Local Policy Council' with deputy heads of 17 metropolitan and provincial governments, as well as related ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. At the meeting, measures were discussed regarding ▲protection of civil complaint public officials ▲follow-up actions after the enforcement of the Dog Meat Consumption Termination Act ▲thorough preparation for the 22nd National Assembly election ▲rapid execution of local finances and stabilization of local prices.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

First, the government and local governments agreed to implement active protective measures against illegal acts by civil complainants so that frontline civil complaint public officials can focus on their core duties. Safety personnel will be prioritized for deployment at resident centers and civil complaint offices where the likelihood of illegal acts by complainants is high, and sufficient safety equipment such as portable protective gear will be provided to strengthen the protection of civil complaint public officials. Additionally, internal personnel and welfare incentives for civil complaint public officials will be expanded, and campaigns to improve complainant awareness will be promoted to spread a civil complaint culture where both complainants and public officials are respected.

Next, the government and local governments agreed to jointly promote follow-up actions regarding the Dog Meat Consumption Termination Act enacted last February. According to the law, after a three-year grace period, from February 2027, breeding, slaughtering, distribution, and sale for dog meat consumption will be prohibited by law in South Korea. Until the law is enforced, the government plans to induce all dog meat-related businesses to either transfer or close and provide reasonable support to help the dog meat industry maintain stable economic activities. Local governments will also form 'Dog Meat Consumption Termination TFs' by region to actively work toward ending dog meat consumption.

Furthermore, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and local governments will cooperate to ensure the 22nd National Assembly election, which is just two weeks away, is conducted fairly and transparently. They will establish public service discipline among affiliated public officials to prevent violations of election neutrality during the campaign period, and prepare thoroughly to ensure smooth elections by installing polling and counting stations and conducting pre-education for election workers.

Full efforts will also be made to rapidly execute local finances and stabilize local prices. National funds received from central ministries this month will be fully executed by the end of March, and metropolitan and provincial governments will meticulously check the execution status of their respective cities, counties, and districts. Since January, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has been operating the 'Local Finance Rapid Execution Support Group' to assist local governments in rapid execution.

With the full-scale local festival season underway, on-site inspections and measures against overcharging will be strengthened. Since this month, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has been operating the 'Overcharging Inspection TF' according to the scale of local festivals, conducting campaigns and on-site inspections. Each local government will implement a price display system at festival entrances and outside sales booths, showing prices in an easy-to-understand format such as 'price per ○○g,' and operate overcharging report centers.

Minister Lee emphasized, "We will create an environment where civil complaint public officials can work with peace of mind to provide better public services to the people," and added, "We will actively respond to illegal acts by complainants such as verbal abuse and assault."