[Full Text] President Moon's Congratulatory Speech at the Appointment Ceremony for New Police Inspectors and Senior Inspectors

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] Honorable citizens, police families, today, 169 young police officers who will be responsible for a ‘Safe Republic of Korea’ take their first step.

University students, executive candidates, lawyers, accountants, and talented individuals from various backgrounds have united with a common pledge to become ‘warm and trustworthy police officers working together with the people.’

Even during tough training, they approached the lives of the people through volunteer activities, and during their internship period, they demonstrated character and competence as prospective police officers by apprehending violent criminals alongside their seniors. Each young police officer who has splendidly overcome the difficult training process is truly reliable.

Congratulations to all of you. We commend the efforts of Police University President Eun-jeong Lee and the faculty who have nurtured these pillars of the Korean police. We also extend congratulations and gratitude to the families who have supported them.

Young police officers,

The people have once again felt the gratitude for ‘democratic police, human rights police, and community police’ while enduring hardships due to COVID-19.

The National Police Agency provided the Police Human Resources Development Institute as a living facility for Wuhan evacuees, creating a model case of overcoming infectious diseases together with the citizens of Asan.

The public trusted the reliable 112 emergency number to consult, report, and confirm the whereabouts of those subject to testing, and the police formed rapid response teams to assist with quarantine efforts.

Police officers nationwide participated in relay blood donations. Police consuls extended their terms to stay locally and protect the safety of Korean residents abroad, and veteran officers nearing retirement volunteered for the mission of transporting evacuees. They investigated and cracked down on mask sales fraud and hoarding, maintaining public order without wavering, playing a significant role in alleviating public anxiety during difficult times.

The police have repaid the public’s trust by flawlessly fulfilling their fundamental duties of ‘community safety and protection of socially vulnerable groups.’

Witnessing the police’s service and dedication shining even brighter when the people are in difficulty, we feel that the spirit of ‘patriotism and care for the people’ of Baekbeom Kim Gu, the first Director of the Korean Provisional Government’s Police Bureau, vividly lives on through 100 years of history. We hope you hold firmly to the tension until COVID-19 is completely overcome.

Last year, the public’s perceived safety level reached an all-time high. Traffic accident fatalities decreased by 11.3% compared to 2018, and drunk driving fatal accidents dropped by 29%. We especially commend the 18% reduction in child traffic accident deaths.

The K-COP wave, as proud as K-POP, is also notable. Foreign visitors to Korea rank our public safety as number one in satisfaction. Korea’s policing system has been transferred to 110 countries worldwide, and at the ‘1st International Police Industry Expo’ held last year in Songdo, Incheon, domestically produced police equipment incorporating advanced technology attracted global attention.

Following the election of the first Korean president of INTERPOL, our Police University was designated as the world’s second ‘INTERPOL Global Academy.’ Our police also lead international cooperation in cybercrime and child sexual exploitation fields.

Behind the growth of our police as leaders of the global police community are the citizens who believe in and support police innovation. We send warm applause to the achievements of our police together with the people.

To the 150,000 police family members, the police’s lifeblood is the trust of the people. The police are the face of the nation that citizens meet most closely.

Even if you do well ninety-nine times, the people expect you to do well the hundredth time as well. The state’s responsibility for the safety of its citizens is infinite.

At the same time, our citizens do not forget the dedication of the police. They support the police’s efforts to improve investigative systems and become human rights-oriented police. The on-site human rights counseling centers that promptly resolve human rights complaints, warrant examiners who prevent abuse of compulsory investigations, expanded participation of defense attorneys to guarantee suspects’ rights, video recording and audio recording systems, and self-defense notes are all practical reform achievements made by our police, establishing multiple layers of control during investigations.

Based on these achievements, the police have pledged to make this year the ‘first year of responsible investigation.’ Achieving both ‘responsible investigation’ and ‘democratic control’ is a challenging task, but we believe it will surely succeed.

Police innovation can be further solidified with legal and institutional support. The ‘autonomous police system’ and the ‘Integrated Police Act’ for decentralization of public safety await passage in the National Assembly. The government will also make every effort to ensure that citizens can soon receive democratic and closely felt public safety services.

The police overcome difficult and challenging missions with pride. The government will invest and support more in treatment and welfare so that the police can perform their duties with pride. We will complete the increase of 20,000 officers by 2022 and establish legal and institutional support systems.

We will strive to normalize the unreasonable rank structure and establish a compensation system commensurate with the heavy roles and responsibilities. Until the day they take off their uniforms, we will do our best to protect the lives and safety of the police so that they can remain friends of the people and heroes of the neighborhood.

Honorable citizens and police families, the young police officers appointed today will grow wrinkles alongside the safety of the people, but their faces will shine with pride and glory, and their legs will become stronger. With vigor, passion, and infinite confidence, they will write a new history of the ‘people’s police.’

The rank badges pinned on your shoulders today carry great expectations from the people. The citizens will always support and watch over you as you walk the honorable path of the police. We hope you advance unwaveringly ‘closer to the people, into the field.’ Once again, congratulations on your graduation and appointment, and we bless your future.

Thank you.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.