Police Agency Plans to Refer Former Gangnam Police Chief to Disciplinary Committee over Misconduct Allegations

Seodaemun-gu Police Agency, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] A police superintendent-level official, formerly the chief of the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, who has been under investigation for various allegations of misconduct, is expected to be referred to the disciplinary committee.

The National Police Agency announced on the 14th that it has completed the investigation of Superintendent Park, former chief of the Gangnam Police Station, and plans to refer him to the disciplinary committee next month. The level of discipline is expected to be determined after the disciplinary committee meeting next month. According to the Police Officer Disciplinary Regulations, disciplinary actions include dismissal, removal, demotion, suspension, pay reduction, and reprimand. Among these, dismissal, removal, demotion, and suspension are considered severe disciplinary actions.

Previously, Superintendent Park was suspected of frequently drinking alcohol during his tenure as head of the Intelligent Crime Investigation Unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency from 2019 to 2020, inviting female officers under his command to drinking parties, and colluding with lawyers from a law firm he was acquainted with to handle cases. There are also allegations that he used a luxury resort in Namhae, Gyeongnam, and that a construction businessman paid for the room charges. Superintendent Park is also suspected of coercing investigators to hand over a large quantity of illegally seized masks to his wife, who is a pharmacist, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when the "mask crisis" occurred.

The police placed Superintendent Park on standby duty in February last year after the allegations surfaced. Superintendent Park has stated that all the allegations are groundless.

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