Jeju Middle School Student Murder Suspect Held in 'Unarmed' Detention, Police on Duty Face "Human Rights Violation" Backlash

Jeju Middle School Student Murder Suspect Self-Harms
Ordered to Work in Detention Cell
"Murderer Lies Down, Police Sit Cross-Legged"
Unarmed Shifts Lasting 3 Hours Each

Baek Mo, who is accused of killing a middle school student and fleeing in Jeju, is being transferred from Jeju Dongbu Police Station to Jeju District Court on the afternoon of the 21st to undergo a pre-arrest warrant hearing.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Regarding the suspect in the Jeju middle school student murder case causing a self-harm disturbance in the detention center, and the order given to police officers to enter the detention center and work there, voices of opposition within the police are growing, calling it a 'human rights violation.'

According to the police on the 24th, Baek Mo (48), the suspect in the Jeju middle school student murder case who is detained at the Jeju Dongbu Police Station detention center, caused a self-harm disturbance in the detention center on the 22nd. Baek hit his head against the corner of the restroom door, causing bleeding, and was immediately restrained by a guard, treated at a hospital, and then re-detained.

The problem arose when an order was given to manage the suspect in the same space from 8 p.m. that day until 9 a.m. the next day. The Jeju Dongbu Police Station’s union and others claim that investigative officers without detention center work experience were made to work unarmed in shifts of three hours.

When this fact became known, there was strong backlash within the police, calling it a clear human rights violation. One police officer posted on the internal police network, saying, "The staff sat in a dignified posture watching, while the murder suspect lay down and slept comfortably," and questioned, "Is it even possible for staff who have never worked in a detention center to enter and prepare for accidents?"

Eventually, this method of duty was reportedly changed within a day to have officers take turns guarding in front of the bars, but opposition within the police is intensifying. There are also signs of solidarity movements at the national police union level.

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