Police Who Fabricate Cases Deserve Dismissal, Not a Light Reprimand

President Lee Jae-myung said at a Cabinet meeting on the 29th that far heavier disciplinary action, such as dismissal, is needed, in response to reports that police who fabricated a case received only a light reprimand. Speaking at the Cabinet meeting he chaired at the Blue House that day, President Lee said, "There was a recent report that a police officer who manipulated a case received only a light reprimand." He added, "Fundamentally, if something like that happens, the officer should at least be barred from police work altogether or dismissed."

He was pointing out that the weight of harm to citizens should be reflected in disciplinary measures. President Lee said, "From the public's perspective, people suffer unjust harm, fail to receive redress due to case manipulation, and in some cases even see perpetrators and victims switch places, creating a lifetime grudge."

President Lee also noted that since police now hold the authority to close investigations, external checks on the investigative process have become difficult, and their responsibility has grown, making disciplinary standards of the past inappropriate. He said that securing fairness and strengthening corrective systems are necessary. The president also stressed the importance of reinforcing the independence of internal inspection functions, adding, "They must not shield their own people just because they are colleagues."