Joo Ho-young "Can Police Be Responsible for Children's Lives... Police Reform Before Prosecutor Reform"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun, Lim Chun-han] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the police regarding the death of an adopted child due to abuse, saying, "Can the police be responsible for the safety of children's lives?" and added, "There is a growing public voice that police reform should come before prosecution reform."

In his opening remarks at the 'Joint Meeting for Measures to Eradicate Child Abuse' held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 7th, Floor Leader Joo said, "The public feels extreme anger not only at the evil acts of the adoptive parents but also at the pathetic response of the police and protective agencies who returned the victimized child to the adoptive parents despite several opportunities to save the child."

He emphasized, "In particular, the police closed the investigation three times in this case," and added, "According to the prosecution-police investigation coordination authority, from this year the police have the authority to conclude the first investigation. There is a growing public voice questioning whether such police can truly be responsible for children's lives and safety, and whether police reform should come before prosecution reform."

Kim Jong-in, chairman of the Emergency Response Committee, said, "No matter how much the government pressures, increasing the birth rate is not easy," and added, "It is important to properly protect and raise the children who are already born."

He said, "The government generally seems to observe the issue from the perspective of adoption, but rather than adoption issues, the focus should be on how the government can effectively monitor and protect children from abuse," and added, "While strengthening punishment might be thought to solve this problem, I do not believe it can be resolved by punishment alone."

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