[Initial Perspective] The Tragedy of Jeong-in, What Matters More Than an Apology

Child Abuse Case, Criticism of Irresponsible Police

Concerns Raised Over Expansion of Police Investigation Authority

Urgent Need for Laws and Systems for Preventive Police Activities

[Asia Economy Reporter Ko Hyung-kwang] Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency bowed twice before the public since the beginning of the year. This was in relation to the so-called ‘Jeong-in Case,’ where a 16-month-old adopted child died due to horrific abuse by adoptive parents three months ago. Following a public apology on the 6th, he expressed his remorse again yesterday while responding to a Blue House petition, stating, "As the highest responsible officer of the police, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility."

Although Commissioner Kim apologized twice, he did not mention the structural reasons behind such a tragedy. Instead, as a future measure, he said, "We will establish a dedicated department to oversee child abuse prevention policies and build a solid cooperative system with related agencies to ensure early detection, protection, support, and investigation of child abuse are carried out organically." It is unlikely that there were no related departments or no cooperation with related agencies until now. This is why the public cannot help but think of this as a case of too little, too late.

In fact, Commissioner Kim himself knows well what the core issue is. It is the urgent need to establish laws and systems that support proactive and preventive police activities. The ‘preventive security’ is what Commissioner Kim identifies as the central axis of police activities. In an interview with this publication at the end of last year, he mentioned the Jeong-in case, saying, "Even if there is a possibility of child abuse, if the family strongly protests, the police officers have no choice but to step back," and appealed, "Even if the police take active and proactive measures, there must be legal backing to ensure no disadvantage to their status; since this is not the case, they inevitably hesitate."

The authority of the police has been rapidly expanding recently. On the 13th, the National Assembly passed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act and the Prosecutors’ Office Act, which adjust the investigative authority between the police and prosecutors. For the first time in 67 years, the prosecution’s right to direct investigations was abolished, allowing the police to conduct investigations independently without prosecutors’ supervision, and to close cases judged as no charges without sending them to the prosecution. The police have thus gained formidable investigative power. However, voices expressing concern over police abuse of power are growing louder.

Not only tragic child cases similar to the Jeong-in case, where initial investigations were inadequate leading to loss of life, but also recent incidents such as the assault on a taxi driver by Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu, which was closed without significant punishment raising suspicions of leniency, the so-called Druking case where the police ignored the issue until media reports due to fear of powerful authorities, and the Burning Sun case revealing both internal protection and collusion with dark forces?all these examples show police incompetence in protecting citizens’ lives and safety, and cautious behavior in investigating powerful figures. There are even frequent absurd cases where victims and perpetrators are reversed during investigations.

Ultimately, the issue is what effects and side effects granting additional preemptive intervention rights to the already powerful police will have on public safety. While expanding police authority is necessary to prevent tragedies like Jeong-in’s, the greater the authority, the greater the risk of abuse. More important than the police chief bowing to public outrage is the need to come together and discuss. How to manage and find the right balance between minimal use of public authority and active intervention, how to institutionalize and check these powers?these are the obligations that the Kim Chang-ryong administration, the most powerful police leadership in 100 years of police history, must present to the public.

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