[Exclusive] Police Officer Dismissals This Year Hit Five-Year High... Discipline Lapses Cross the Line

349 Disciplinary Cases from January to September This Year
Maximum Disciplinary Fine Imposed: 300 Million KRW
Senior Officers' Misconduct More Serious Than Field Police

As of September this year, 349 police officers have been disciplined for various misconducts, with the highest level of punishment, 'dismissal,' reaching its highest number in five years. This points to a serious decline in discipline within the police organization.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to the office of Park Jeong-hyun, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the number of police disciplinary cases from January to September this year was 349. By severity of discipline, there were 25 dismissals, 39 removals, 18 demotions, 112 suspensions, 81 pay reductions, and 74 reprimands. The number of dismissals has already reached a peak, with 22 cases in 2019, 25 in 2020, 15 in 2021, 16 in 2022, and 17 in 2023.

Disciplinary actions against police officers are classified into six types: dismissal, removal, demotion, suspension, pay reduction, and reprimand. Suspensions and above are considered serious disciplinary actions. In the case of dismissal, the individual cannot be appointed as a public official for five years, and retirement benefits are reduced by up to 50%. For removal, reappointment as a public official is possible after three years, and retirement benefits are reduced by up to 25%.

By reason, there were 162 cases of damage to dignity, 53 cases of sexual misconduct, 50 cases of drunk driving, 27 cases of disciplinary violations, 24 cases of neglect of duty, and 23 cases of bribery. Additional disciplinary fines were imposed in 24 cases, totaling 824.29 million KRW. The maximum amount reached 300 million KRW. These disciplinary fines are penalties requiring public officials who committed bribery or embezzlement of public funds to pay up to five times the amount involved in the corruption.

Park Jeong-hyun, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Photo by Kim Hyun-min

By rank, there were 5 cases among senior superintendents and above, 24 among superintendents, 106 among inspectors, 106 among lieutenants, 38 among sergeants, 46 among corporals, and 24 among patrol officers. The number of disciplinary cases among superintendents exceeded last year's 20 cases, revealing that misconduct among higher-ranking officers is more severe than among field officers. Although Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho emphasized in his inauguration speech last August, “Public officials must be role models for the people. Managers must be role models for their members. Roles and responsibilities should be proportional to rank. Let us move one step closer to the public’s expectations through actions and practice,” it appears insufficient.

By metropolitan and provincial police agencies, the cases were as follows: Seoul 106, Gyeonggi Southern 33, Gyeonggi Northern 28, Busan 20, North Gyeongsang 19, South Gyeongsang 17, South Chungcheong and South Jeolla 16, Daegu 14, North Chungcheong 13, North Jeolla 12, Gangwon 8, Incheon, Gwangju, Ulsan, Jeju 9, Daejeon 5, and Sejong 2. Only Seoul and North Chungcheong had more cases than the total disciplinary cases last year.

Police misconduct continues to occur. In August, the National Police Agency decided to remove Superintendent A from the Busan Police Agency, who was charged with drunk driving and hit-and-run. Superintendent A drove under the influence for about 30 km from near Yangsan on the Gyeongbu Expressway to in front of Busan National University, hitting a motorcycle on the road and fleeing before being caught. In May, the Jeonnam Police Agency dismissed Lieutenant B from the Wando Police Station on theft charges. Lieutenant B stole 34 million KRW in cash seized from a gambling site under investigation, doing so 14 times.

Assemblyman Park said, “Police officers are required by service regulations to act as role models for the public with sincere and honest conduct, but the number of disciplinary cases is not decreasing, which is concerning,” adding, “The leadership must manage the force with strict discipline and a sense of responsibility.”