Police Disciplinary Action Underway Against Officer Who Destroyed Son's Phone

A serving police officer, who sparked controversy by destroying a mobile phone containing key evidence regarding his son's illegal filming charges, has avoided criminal punishment but will face disciplinary proceedings from his agency, the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency. In May, a male student at a high school in Jeonbuk was caught secretly filming a female teacher’s body, leading to a report by the school. Inspector A, the student’s father and a serving police officer, smashed his son’s mobile phone and disposed of it in a garbage bag. Inspector A has admitted to the circumstances surrounding the destruction and disposal of the device.

During police questioning, the son confessed to the act, but due to the lack of decisive video evidence, he was transferred to the prosecution on charges of attempted illegal filming. The investigation team at the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency decided not to refer Inspector A for prosecution, determining that criminal punishment was impossible due to the application of the Criminal Code's special exemption clause for family members. The investigation team also revealed that they examined call logs and text messages regarding allegations of collusion with Inspector A but found no confirmed facts.

Deeming it inappropriate for a law enforcement officer to personally destroy evidence of his son’s crime, the police have initiated internal disciplinary proceedings.