[Exclusive] 'Bribery Police' Fines Reach 800 Million Won This Year... 176-Fold Surge in 5 Years

Up to Five Times the Illicit Gain: Disciplinary Surcharges
Record Highs Raise Concerns Over Collapsing Discipline
427 Disciplinary Cases Including Drunk Driving and Sexual Misconduct

The amount of disciplinary surcharges imposed on police officers caught accepting bribes this year has approached 800 million won, marking the highest level on record. Repeated cases of corruption have raised concerns that discipline within the police force is collapsing.

Sungjoo Park, Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters at the National Police Agency. Photo by Yonhap News

According to data submitted by the office of Assemblyman Yoon Kunyoung of the Democratic Party of Korea to the National Police Agency on December 2, the total amount of disciplinary surcharges from January to October this year reached 790.29 million won, a 176-fold increase compared to five years ago (4.47 million won in 2020). Disciplinary surcharges are punitive fines imposed on public officials who commit financial misconduct, such as accepting bribes or embezzling public funds, and can be up to five times the amount involved in the wrongdoing.

Cases of police officers accepting bribes continue unabated. On November 27, a senior superintendent and an inspector, both heads of police stations in Seoul, were indicted and detained on charges of accepting bribes. Senior Superintendent A is accused of receiving 79 million won from July 2022 to July last year from the actual operator of an illegal coin exchange disguised as a gift certificate company and its CEO, in exchange for investigative information and other favors. Inspector B is accused of receiving bribes worth about 10 million won on 13 occasions from February last year to February this year.

Beyond bribery, a serious level of moral hazard persists within the police organization. The total number of disciplinary cases involving police officers was tallied at 427. By reason, there were 133 cases of disciplinary violations, 124 cases of conduct unbecoming, 61 cases of drunk driving, 49 cases of sexual misconduct, 38 cases of negligence of duty, and 22 cases of bribery. By rank, there were 6 cases involving senior superintendents or higher, 32 involving superintendents, 129 involving inspectors, 124 involving senior inspectors, 54 involving sergeants, 47 involving corporals, and 35 involving constables.

By severity of disciplinary action, there were 23 dismissals, 62 terminations, 34 demotions, 79 suspensions, 88 pay cuts, and 141 warnings. Disciplinary actions for police officers fall into six categories: dismissal, termination, demotion, suspension, pay cut, and warning. From suspension and above, actions are classified as severe disciplinary measures. Dismissed officers cannot be reappointed as public officials for five years and may have up to 50% of their retirement benefits reduced. Terminated officers are eligible for reappointment after three years, with retirement benefits reduced by up to 25%.

By regional police agency, the breakdown was as follows: Seoul 86 cases, Gyeonggi South 54, Jeonnam 33, Gyeongbuk 30, Incheon 28, Gyeonggi North and Busan 25 each, Daegu 22, Gyeongnam 21, Gangwon 17, Jeonbuk 19, Chungbuk and Ulsan 16 each, Chungnam 14, Jeju 10, Gwangju 6, Daejeon 3, and Sejong 1. The number of disciplinary cases exceeded last year’s total in Incheon, Ulsan, Gangwon, and Jeonbuk.

While the police leadership has emphasized the need to restore public trust, in reality, that foundation is being shaken. In his inaugural address in June, Yoo Jaesung, Acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, stated, "We will set and implement the agency’s policy direction with the public at the center." Sungjoo Park, Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters, also said, "We will conduct investigations strictly and fairly in accordance with the law and principles, so that we can become an investigative agency trusted by the public."

Kim Dowoo, a professor in the Department of Police Administration at Gyeongnam National University, emphasized, "The police have a closed organizational culture regarding internal discipline. To increase public trust, it is necessary to encourage internal whistleblowing and diversify external disciplinary committee members, rather than simply protecting their own members."