Police Commissioner General: "Comprehensive Reform in Child Abuse Response... Raising Police Officers' Integrity"

National Assembly Administration and Security Committee Work Report

Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Amid public outrage over child abuse cases such as the death of a 16-month-old adopted child in Yangcheon, Seoul (known as the 'Jeong-in case'), National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong emphasized a comprehensive reform.

On the 18th, during a briefing to the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Commissioner Kim stated, "With the crime landscape changing due to COVID-19 and other factors, threats to socially vulnerable groups and ordinary citizens are increasing. We are strengthening the social safety net and, in particular, overhauling the entire system from dispatch to post-management regarding child abuse."

In this regard, the National Police Agency is developing a checklist to help on-site police officers accurately assess child abuse suspicions. Additionally, they will hold 'Integrated Case Meetings' involving experts to conduct in-depth analysis and judgment of child abuse cases. Even in difficult cases, if there are two or more reports or if a hospital provides a treatment opinion meeting certain criteria, the child will be separated from the perpetrator, such as a parent, and an investigation will commence.

Furthermore, the police have established special investigation teams for child abuse under the city and provincial police agencies, and professional personnel will accompany all child abuse reports during dispatch. After a child abuse incident occurs, daily joint investigations led by department heads will be conducted, and management and supervision will be strengthened through reports to station chiefs. Child abuse cases reported two or more times will be jointly inspected with related agencies at least once every six months.

Moreover, Commissioner Kim emphasized his commitment to completing 'police reform.' He said, "We will meet public expectations through definite actions and proof. We will establish a responsible investigation system so that anyone can trust and entrust investigations to the police, realize empathetic and human rights-based investigations, and significantly enhance investigative fairness and completeness by expanding meticulous internal and external review mechanisms like a net."

He also apologized for recent illegal acts by police officers, such as drunk driving. Commissioner Kim stressed, "We will raise individual human rights ethics in line with the police's status and responsibilities and promote effective anti-corruption policies to build integrity."

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