"Opposition to the Establishment of the Police Bureau"… Incheon Police to Wear Masks in Group Protest Starting the 11th

Design of masks to be worn by police officers of Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency as a protest against the establishment of the 'Police Bureau' [Provided by Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency Public Officials Workplace Council]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Police officers belonging to the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency are taking collective action in protest against the establishment of the Police Bureau by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The Incheon Police Officers' Workplace Council announced that about 7,000 Incheon police officers will wear masks bearing messages guaranteeing police independence starting from the 11th.

Incheon police officers prepared this collective action as officials from the Police Agency responsible for the establishment of the Police Bureau planned to visit the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency on the same day to hear their opinions.

In a statement on the 10th, the council said, "Placing a police affairs organization under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety contradicts the fundamental spirit of police reform, which is 'political neutrality' and 'democratic control.' This can only be seen as an attempt to directly control the police under political power."

They also expressed opposition, stating, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's enactment of the 'Minister's Police Commissioner Command Rule' directly violates laws such as the Police Act and the Government Organization Act, undermining the rule of law and reducing and infringing upon the role of the Police Commission, a democratic control body."

The council added, "If there are concerns about the excessive expansion of police power, it is appropriate to strengthen the role of the Police Commission, discuss the realization of the autonomous police system based on public safety, and enhance the independence of the National Investigation Headquarters. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's unilateral control attempt goes against the trend of pursuing democratic policing," announcing their plan to wear masks as a form of collective action.

The masks are black and bear the phrase "Guarantee police independence and neutrality, police only for the people" on the surface.

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