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President Lee Jae-myung mentioned during his Police Day speech on the 21st, “In light of the major reform separating investigation and prosecution, our police force needs to take more seriously the issue of whether greater police power will genuinely enhance our quality of life.”

The president delivered these comments during the 80th Police Day celebration at the Korean National Police Agency, stating, “We need to consistently improve the accountability, fairness, professionalism, and efficiency of investigations to build a reliable investigative system for the public.” This statement came in response to the current scenario where the prosecution, as part of reforms initiated by the ruling party, is experiencing a reduction in investigative authority, while the police are gaining more investigative power. Legal experts and academics have raised concerns that this shift might result in gaps in the investigation of corruption and economic crimes, areas where prosecutors have developed significant expertise.

Concerning the emergency martial law event last December, President Lee remarked, “When the police aligned with those in power, the country’s democracy and constitutional framework were undermined, and the will of the people was breached,” and added, “The police need to be reformed into a democratic entity that stands alongside the public.” He continued, “Even during the night of the coup attempt on December 3rd of last year, although in small numbers, police command personnel supported the highest authority and took part in a self-coup.” He stressed, “We will guarantee the police’s neutrality and reinforce democratic oversight so that this shameful chapter and disgrace can be erased, enabling the police to become a democratic institution.” He further noted, “From dismantling the Police Bureau to boosting the power and position of the National Police Commission, we will keep working tirelessly to advance as a democratic police force that serves the people.”

Following the ceremony, President Lee went to the Democracy Movement Memorial Museum situated at the former Public Security Division in Namyeong-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The presidential office stated that the visit to the former Public Security Division on Police Day “demonstrates the president’s determination that such shameful history should never happen again.” President Lee toured Room 509, where Park Jong-cheol died due to torture, and Room 515, where the late former legislator Kim Geun-tae was subjected to torture. When questioned about why the location of the torture had been changed from its original condition, the presidential office mentioned that Lee Jae-o, chairman of the Democracy Movement Memorial Foundation, who was with him, requested government-level assistance for verification and restoration.