"Growing Public Concern Over Police Power"... DP Pushes for Reform

[Anchor]

Following the Jang Yoon-ki case and the Jeju missing person case, as a series of botched police investigations came to light, President Lee Jae-myung and both ruling and opposition lawmakers strongly rebuked the police. President Lee raised the necessity of reforming the police, whose authority has grown, while the Democratic Party launched a police reform promotion task force.

Here is reporter Park Jae-yeon with the details.

[Reporter]

During a Cabinet meeting today (August 25), President Lee Jae-myung pointed out that recent issues regarding police laxity and irresponsibility are emerging as serious problems.

He also stated that as the police have gained greater authority through amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act, reforms to strengthen accountability are necessary.

[President Lee Jae-myung : Public concern is very high. Because doubts arise as to whether this vast authority is matched by sufficient fulfillment of responsibility, we must consider how to reform the police moving forward....]

Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byeong-do, who had demanded a "complete overhaul and renewal" of the police on the 6th regarding the Jang Yoon-ki case, once again demanded "drastic renewal" from the police 19 days later.

[Han Byeong-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader : The police now stand at the final test to determine whether they can regain public trust.]

Self-reflection and sharp rebukes poured out during a police reform seminar held by pan-ruling camp lawmakers.

One lawmaker, a former deputy commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, spoke with the following remarks:

[Lim Ho-sun / Democratic Party Lawmaker : I feel as though I have lived my life in vain. It feels as if I have committed a grave sin. The police are still failing to fulfill their responsibilities.]

Experts suggested implementing tighter oversight of police powers, such as strengthening the authority of the National Police Commission.

[Lee Chang-min / Attorney : They just process cases as suicides. Why do they process them that way? Because it is the easiest. External control is necessary.]

The Democratic Party launched a police reform promotion task force under the instruction of party leader Kim Min-seok. Lawmaker Kim Nam-hee, who was appointed as the head of the task force, had previously emphasized the necessity of legislative supplementation to protect victims during the recent amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act that abolished the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok targeted the ruling camp on social media, writing, "Did you push for the dismantlement of the prosecution while knowing so well about the police problems?" and adding, "Ultimately, only the general public will suffer massive harm."

(Camera: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing: Won Hyung-hee | Design: Lee Ga-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.