The Fate of the 'Police Officer Criminal Liability Reduction' Amendment Bill Pending in the National Assembly Judiciary Committee

"Not the Senate Judiciary Committee" Statement by the Chairman of the Public Administration Committee Undermined
Concerns Raised Over Excessive Legislation and Human Rights Violations... Processing Difficult
Calls for Strengthening Public Authority Also Strong

Officials from the Police Reform Network are urging the suspension of the establishment of provisions for reducing police criminal liability during a press conference opposing the Judiciary Committee's handling of the amendment to the Police Officer Duty Execution Act held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The revision bill of the "Police Officer Duty Execution Act" (Gyeongjikbeop), which reduces criminal liability for damages occurring during the legitimate execution of police duties, has been stalled in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Law Committee), drawing attention to whether the bill will be processed in the future.

While concerns about police overreaction have been raised by civil society, criticism has also emerged that the bill prioritizes the human rights of criminals. Within the police force, voices are growing that the Gyeongjikbeop must be enacted to prevent inadequate responses like the "Incheon Interfloor Noise Weapon Rampage" incident and to ensure fair and strict law enforcement.

According to the National Assembly and police on the 11th, the Law Committee decided on the 8th, after lengthy discussions in a plenary meeting, to shelve the Gyeongjikbeop revision bill and discuss it again at the next plenary meeting. Since the last plenary session of this year's regular National Assembly ended on the 9th, the revision bill is expected to be reconsidered at the earliest during a special session.

Previously, the Administrative Safety Committee (Hang-an Committee), the committee in charge, passed the Gyeongjikbeop revision bill swiftly as a chairman's alternative, but the Law Committee, responsible for systematic and detailed review, put the brakes on it. On the 29th of last month, Seo Young-kyo, chairperson of the Hang-an Committee, directly criticized, saying, "The Law Committee is not a senate," and her concerns have now become reality.

The Gyeongjikbeop revision bill contains provisions allowing for mitigation or exemption of criminal liability for damages caused to others during the performance of duties by police officers to prevent or suppress urgent situations, provided there is no intentional or gross negligence, taking circumstances into consideration.

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency (left), is responding to lawmakers' questions regarding the "Partial Amendment to the Police Officer Duty Execution Act," which includes provisions guaranteeing police immunity, at the full meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee held on the 29th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Following the "Incheon Interfloor Noise Weapon Rampage" incident last month, which brought police inadequate response under scrutiny, the bill aims to guarantee active and legitimate law enforcement by police officers. The bill was proposed by ruling party members including Chairperson Seo, Lee Byung-hoon, and Lim Ho-seon, as well as opposition member Kim Yong-pan of the People Power Party, showing bipartisan support.

However, the Law Committee raised concerns about the lack of specificity in the bill. The bill defines the conditions for mitigating criminal liability as "the process of performing duties to prevent or suppress urgent situations where a crime is about to be committed or is being committed by a police officer," which raised fears of potential over-legislation. Human rights issues raised by civic groups such as the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy were also mentioned. Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye said, "We need to be cautious about potential human rights violations," adding, "More public consensus must be secured."

On the other hand, voices calling for stronger public authority are not insignificant. According to "The Poll," a blockchain-based online voting system, a survey conducted from the 25th of last month to the 1st of this month with 38,551 respondents showed that 62.3% (24,012 people) agreed with the question, "What do you think about loosening police officers' authority to use firearms more freely during suppression?"

Within the police, there are mixed feelings of regret and anger over the stalling of the Gyeongjikbeop revision bill. One police officer said, "This is not for the individual police officers. It is a revision to protect the public from heinous criminals," expressing regret, adding, "It is no different from the intent behind granting parliamentary immunity to lawmakers." Another officer said, "It feels unpleasant as if the police are being slandered as a 'human rights violation' group," and added, "It is disappointing that concerns about abuse arise even though this is a revision for the minimum exercise of public authority."

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