Next Year's Police Riot Squad and Special Activity Expenses Budget Cut... "Guaranteeing Constitutional Basic Rights" (Comprehensive)

Opposition Draws Knife in Violent Crackdown
Assemblyman Han Chang-min Suffers Fracture at Rally
Police Chief Refuses to Apologize Until the End

At the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee Budget and Accounts Subcommittee, the budget for next year's operation and management of the Police Agency's riot police unit was cut by 3.514 billion KRW, and special activity expenses were cut by 3.167 billion KRW.

Assemblyman Han Chang-min of the Social Democratic Party is being subdued by the police. Online community.

According to Mo Gyeong-jong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 20th, a total of 6.981 billion KRW was reduced from the Police Agency's general account budget proposal. Major reductions include 300 million KRW for helicopter operation and modernization, 3.514 billion KRW for riot police operation and management, 2.922 billion KRW for investigation support, and 245 million KRW for public safety activity support. On the other hand, 10.257 billion KRW was increased for the operation of the 112 emergency system, 431 million KRW for protection activities for socially vulnerable groups, 3.395 billion KRW for strengthening intelligence and economic crime investigation capabilities, 2.045 billion KRW for enhancing cyber investigation capabilities, 1.328 billion KRW for strengthening overseas public safety cooperation, and 2.135 billion KRW for Police University operations, among 19 areas totaling 55.332 billion KRW in increases and new allocations.

The opposition parties targeted the police's suppression equipment and special activity expenses. The Police Agency attempted to triple the budget for purchasing safety shields but only 520 million KRW was allocated, the same as this year. Budgets for broadcast lighting vehicles and safety fences were cut by 2.64 billion KRW to protect constitutional basic rights. Special activity expenses were fully cut because the Police Agency did not submit usage details despite the National Assembly's request.

Initially, Representative Mo suggested at the budget subcommittee that since the Police Agency currently has sufficient safety management equipment, a reduction of 6.457 billion KRW excluding the budget for introducing hygiene vehicles was necessary. In fact, the number of safety fences owned by the police nearly doubled. The number of vehicle-type, mobile, and foldable safety fences increased from 696 last year to 1,172 this year.

Mo Kyung-jong, Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 9th, the Democratic Party, the Party for Justice and Innovation, the Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Basic Income Party announced budget cuts, accusing the police of provoking clashes during peaceful assemblies and protests by deploying heavily armed security forces and creating an atmosphere of fear. At the scene, Han Chang-min, a Social Democratic Party lawmaker, intervened to mediate for the safety of police and citizens but was grabbed by the neck and had his clothes torn.

Ten lawmakers, including Park Ju-min, Lee Yong-woo, Kim Yoon, Park Hong-bae, and Kang Kyung-sook of the Democratic Party, Jeong Chun-saeng of the Party for Justice and Innovation, Yoon Jong-oh and Jeong Hye-kyung of the Progressive Party, and Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party, demanded an apology from Police Chief Jo Ji-ho and measures to prevent recurrence. However, Chief Jo refused to apologize despite receiving protest letters from the lawmakers.