National audit and inspection workshop held Wednesday

Acting Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Kim Jong-cheol speaks at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Acting Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Kim Jong-cheol speaks at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

Acting Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Kim Jong-cheol on Wednesday called for strict action against corruption and misconduct within the police force.

Kim made the remarks at a national workshop for audit and inspection department heads held at the agency's headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. "Helping colleagues correct their mistakes is true camaraderie," he said, urging audit and inspection units to serve as "the last line of defense in upholding the basics and principles of policing" — judging even long-standing practices by the standards the public expects.

"For serious investigative misconduct — including case manipulation, cover-ups, leaking investigation information, and accepting bribes or entertainment — dismissal will be the default disciplinary measure," Kim said. He added that the agency would also take firm action against misconduct that undermines public trust, such as drunk driving and sexual offenses.

"Dirty hands cannot uphold justice, and it is time for the police to become the organization that holds itself to the strictest standards," he said. Kim vowed that the agency would respond firmly to corruption and misconduct regardless of rank, break with the culture of shielding its own and showing undue leniency, and rebuild public trust.

The workshop was organized amid growing public concern over misconduct within the police force, and aimed to discuss ways to strengthen the agency's audit and inspection systems.

A total of 340 people participated in person or via video link, including Kim, the agency's human rights auditor, civil petition and audit officers and inspection team leaders from police agencies across the country, and civil petition and audit officers from police stations nationwide.


arin@heraldcorp.com