Despite Fewer Company Dinners Due to COVID-19... Police Officers' Drunk Driving Incidents That Need Crackdown Increase

64 People in 2019 to 73 Last Year
Efforts to Eradicate Including Stricter Disciplinary Actions Prove Ineffective
Contrary to Social Atmosphere of Refraining from Company Dinners

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Despite the reduction in company dinners and restrictions on gatherings at restaurants during late-night hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been confirmed that drunk driving incidents among police officers have actually increased. Although awareness about drunk driving is rising day by day, the police officers who are supposed to enforce these regulations have acted contrary to societal expectations.

According to the "Number of Disciplinary Actions for Police Officers' Drunk Driving in the Last Four Years" obtained by Asia Economy from the National Police Agency on the 28th, the number of police officers disciplined for drunk driving last year increased by 9 from the previous year to 73. After recording 86 in 2017 and 88 in 2018, the number decreased to 64 in 2019 but rose again in 2020, when the COVID-19 situation persisted. Among those disciplined for drunk driving, 52 received suspension, 13 were demoted, and 4 each were dismissed or had their pay reduced.

By affiliation, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency had the highest number with 14 officers, followed by the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency with 11, and the Gyeongbuk Police Agency with 7. However, no officers from the Daejeon Police Agency, Sejong Police Agency, or Jeju Police Agency were disciplined for drunk driving. By rank, 33 were lieutenants, 15 sergeants, 12 inspectors, and 6 each were patrol officers and senior patrol officers who were disciplined last year for driving under the influence. One police superintendent, who serves as a middle manager such as a police station chief or a section chief at a provincial or headquarters level, was also caught.

Last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued, voices urging restraint from company dinners and group events grew due to infection concerns, and this atmosphere still persists. Although company dinners decreased and spaces to drink late into the night shrank, drunk driving among active police officers increased. Furthermore, despite the enactment of the "Yoon Chang-ho Act (Revised Road Traffic Act)" to strengthen drunk driving penalties and internal efforts within the police to tighten disciplinary measures, these efforts proved futile.

On the 20th of this month, Officer A from the Gimje Police Station in Jeonbuk, responsible for traffic duties, was caught by the police after driving a vehicle in a heavily intoxicated state and colliding with the car in front while waiting at a traffic signal. In March, Sergeant B from the Incheon Western Police Station also caused an accident by reversing into a vehicle while intoxicated and waiting at a signal.

Professor Lee Geon-su of the Department of Police Science at Baekseok University explained, "When police officers, who are supposed to enforce the law, drink and drive and receive disciplinary action, public trust in the police will decline. If a police officer commits drunk driving, strict disciplinary measures should be taken, and preventive education and publicity should be conducted. Additionally, measures should be established to prevent officers from driving after drinking by linking with designated driver services and other related organizations."

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