Internal Information Misuse by Police Officer May Result in Maximum Dismissal

Revision of Disciplinary Order Detailed Enforcement Rules
Dismissal for Secondary Harm to Sexual Misconduct Victims

Police Agency building.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] In the future, police officers who unfairly gain financial benefits using undisclosed internal information or commit secondary harm against victims of sexual misconduct will face severe disciplinary actions, up to dismissal. When a public official is dismissed, half of their severance pay (for those with more than 5 years of service) is cut, and they are barred from public service appointments for 5 years.

On the 8th, the National Police Agency revised the "Detailed Enforcement Rules for Police Officer Disciplinary Regulations" to include these provisions. The core of the revision is the establishment of disciplinary standards for unfair acts using confidential or undisclosed information obtained through official duties. If the violation is severe and intentional, dismissal is possible, and even if the violation is confirmed to be the lowest level without intent, at least a salary reduction or higher disciplinary action is mandated. The police included not only secrets or undisclosed information learned during duty or from their affiliated institution but also cases where undisclosed information was received from other public officials or where a third party was allowed to gain financial benefits. This is interpreted as a result reflecting real estate speculation incidents triggered earlier this year at the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).

New disciplinary standards were also established related to the controversy over secondary harm by fellow police officers against a sexual misconduct victim police officer at the Taebaek Police Station in Gangwon earlier this year. If it is confirmed that secondary harm was intentionally inflicted on victims of sexual misconduct and judged as a violation of gross negligence or higher, dismissal or expulsion is possible. The disciplinary standards related to sexual misconduct are subdivided into ▲sexual violence crimes ▲sexual harassment ▲prostitution, and new standards were also established for increasingly frequent offenses such as camera filming/distribution and obscene acts/performance using communication media. All are regulated to allow dismissal up to the maximum penalty, and in particular, sexual violence crimes will always result in disciplinary action of suspension or higher.

Separate disciplinary standards for fraudulent receipt of allowances and travel expenses were newly prepared. Based on an improper receipt amount of 1 million KRW, amounts below this may end with the lightest reprimand if the intent is weak, but from 1 million KRW or more, disciplinary action starts at a salary reduction, and if the violation is severe and intentional, dismissal is possible. The National Police Agency explained, "We established related disciplinary standards to prevent behaviors that undermine trust in the public service in advance and to take strict measures when violations occur."

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