Lee Jun-seok "Police Selection Should Prioritize Control Ability Over Gender Ratio"

"Minimum Operational Capability to Protect the People Must Be Confirmed"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, raised his voice regarding the controversy over the police's inadequate response at the scene of the stabbing rampage in Incheon, stating, "Police officers should be appointed based on their restraint capabilities regardless of gender."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd, Lee said, "In our security system, which strictly limits the use of firearms and defensive equipment, the public expects appointments that can protect citizens' property and lives regardless of whether they are male or female."

He continued, "Physical fitness tests should not be set with qualification conditions for political purposes to balance gender ratios, but should confirm the minimum performance ability to protect lives and property," emphasizing, "We need to increase the budget necessary for training and use to fully protect the lives and property of the people."

Lee also added, "The scope and discretion of using non-lethal tools should be expanded, and officers should not be deployed to the field without training," stating, "What should be saved is not the budget but lives. In urgent situations, officers must be able to carry out suppression activities from the perspective of themselves and citizens in danger."

A man in his 40s, identified as A, who is accused of injuring three members of a neighboring family with a weapon over noise disputes between floors, entered the Incheon District Court in Michuhol-gu, Incheon City on the afternoon of the 17th to undergo a pre-trial detention hearing.
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 21st, Lee also mentioned on Facebook, "In a situation where public interest is rising due to the issue of securing practical security capabilities, no presidential candidate is paying attention," adding, "We need to have a more intense debate about the fair selection of police officers."

Meanwhile, the Incheon stabbing rampage incident occurred on the 15th at a villa in Namdong-gu. A man in his 40s, who lived in the villa, wielded a weapon against a family living downstairs with whom he had conflicts over noise between floors. At the scene, one female police officer and one male police officer were dispatched, but criticism has arisen that the response was inadequate as the man in his 40s wielded the weapon while officers either left the scene or failed to join in time.

Regarding this, Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, bowed his head on the 21st and said, "I deeply apologize to the victims, their families, and the public for the incident at Nonhyeon Police Station in Incheon, where we failed to protect citizens in danger."

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