[Reporter’s Notebook] Shaking Social Safety Net, Must Prevent Public Security Gaps

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] "Since COVID-19 cases continue to emerge internally, investigations inevitably face some delays. With numerous large-scale rallies ahead of the presidential election, it is common for personnel to be out in the field."

This is the lament of detectives at frontline police stations in Seoul. As mass infections surge in essential social sectors such as the police and courts, concerns over security gaps are growing even stronger.

The police are the first sector to face this crisis. There have been consecutive incidents, including a murder in a residential area of Mapo-gu and a woman under personal protection stabbed to death. Additionally, financial fraud and theft cases continue unabated.

However, on the front lines, investigations are delayed as detectives and heads of investigative departments are placed under self-quarantine. Even in district police stations with frequent field dispatches, confirmed cases keep appearing, exacerbating public safety issues. Furthermore, with the presidential election approaching, frontline police officers are being mobilized for various rallies, reducing work continuity. Workload is also intensifying due to requests for supplementary investigations amid adjustments to prosecution and police investigative authority.

The legal sector is facing similar challenges. Recently, mass infections at facilities such as Seoul Eastern Detention Center and Incheon Detention Center have led to consecutive postponements of trials for detained suspects.

The problem is the lack of a system capable of immediate response when COVID-19 reaches its peak. The National Police Agency plans to change shift systems to deploy additional personnel, but the number of available staff is decreasing due to infections. There are also concerns that if the response capacity of all essential social sectors, including health, medical care, and education, declines, the COVID-19 situation could worsen further.

In modern society, public safety is linked not only to citizens' happiness and security but also to national competitiveness. Rather than merely calling for "additional personnel deployment," a newly structured regional response system must be established to respond meticulously.

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