Controversy Over Inadequate Response to 'Interfloor Noise Weapon Rampage'... Where Are the Measures After a Month?

Strengthened Training and Increased Taser Use
Failure of Duty Execution Law, Rising Internal Dissatisfaction
Police Chief: "Restrictions on Initial Response Measures"
Calls for System Improvements to Prevent Hesitation

New police officers are undergoing physical force response training at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The ‘Incheon Interfloor Noise Weapon Rampage’ incident, which sparked controversy over the police’s inadequate response, marked one month since it occurred on the 14th. The police have taken steps to prevent recurrence through enhanced education and training of on-site officers, as well as legal and institutional improvements, but progress remains slow.

Following the revelation that police officers abandoned the scene in front of a suspect wielding a weapon during the Incheon interfloor noise weapon rampage incident on October 15, public criticism of the police’s inadequate response intensified further after a stalking murder case in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 19th. Since the incident, the police have immediately conducted enhanced physical force response training for newly appointed officers and special taser gun training for on-site officers including community police, detectives, traffic patrol, and women’s investigation units. They also formed the ‘Police On-Site Response Enhancement Task Force (TF)’ to discuss measures for strengthening education and training, manpower, systems, and equipment improvements. Police Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong personally visited frontline police stations to observe physical force response training and held meetings with staff, reinforcing his presence on the ground.

Since the incident, there has been an increase in proactive on-site responses such as the use of taser guns. In November alone, the police used taser guns in a total of 32 cases. Last year, taser gun use totaled 285 cases, while this year, up to November, it has already reached 298 cases. However, concerns about disadvantages associated with the use of physical force still cause many officers to hesitate in responding actively. To alleviate this burden, the proposed revision of the ‘Police Officer Duty Execution Act’ passed the National Assembly’s Administration and Security Committee, which has jurisdiction, but remains pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, resulting in failure to be enacted during the last regular session of the National Assembly.

Gaps have also been revealed in protective measures related to stalking and domestic violence crimes, but without legal amendments, effective separation of victims and perpetrators is difficult to implement immediately. At a press conference on the 13th, Commissioner General Kim criticized, “Even if emergency measures are taken for separation and restraint, if there is noncompliance, only fines can be imposed, and if noncompliance is blatant, there are no measures that can be taken on-site,” adding, “The police have very limited means to act at the early stages of an incident.”

There are also complaints from the field about the police leadership. The decision to dismiss two officers who responded to the incident just two weeks after it occurred has been criticized as “shifting all responsibility onto the frontline.” On-site officers unanimously agree that no measures will be effective unless institutional improvements to support active law enforcement are guaranteed. The police leadership faces the challenge of both listening to frontline voices and implementing institutional reforms. The Police Democratic Labor Union, one of the police workplace councils, issued a statement emphasizing, “Police officers must not hesitate in confrontations with criminals. The human rights of criminals must come after those of the victims, the citizens, and the police protecting them,” and stressed, “Our police have always been frustrated and powerless due to moments of hesitation. This is why laws and systems must be revised.”

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