Lee Sang-min Reappointment Trend... "After Establishing the Police Bureau," Frontline Police Officers Are Boiling Mad

Special Investigation Unit Excludes 'Haeng-an-bu' from Search and Seizure Targets
Public Service Discipline Guidelines Issued... Internal Atmosphere Gloomy

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min appeared at the urgent inquiry on the Itaewon disaster held at the National Assembly on the 7th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] As speculation grows that Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min will be retained, opposition among frontline police officers is spreading. Criticism is mounting that the minister is trying to place all responsibility for the Itaewon disaster and its causes solely on the police.

According to a compilation of Asia Economy's coverage on the 12th, posts are flooding internal police networks saying things like, "Without a single word to Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, they are trying to put all the blame solely on the police."

Meanwhile, hundreds of comments are encouraging the Itaewon Police Station frontline staff. Frontline police officers are taking the replacement of the police leadership as a foregone conclusion. The prevailing view is that once the Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Team) completes its investigation to some extent, the leadership will be reshuffled.

On the other hand, there are claims that the Minister of the Interior and Safety and local governments must also bear clear responsibility. A police officer working on the front lines stated, "When the Police Bureau was established, it was said that the entire command system would be reviewed," adding, "It is absurd to say that we do not perform security roles."

Criticism of Minister Lee also recalls the controversy over the Police Bureau. Recently, the minister emphasized that he has no command authority over the police. However, in June, when the Police Bureau was established, he stated that although the Minister of the Interior and Safety does not directly perform police duties according to the Government Organization Act, he has the authority to frequently check whether the National Police Agency is functioning properly and to command and supervise it.

With his stance reversed in just five months, there are criticisms that he is trying to evade responsibility for the Itaewon disaster. Another police officer said, "Only the internal police leadership is being quickly dealt with as scapegoats," adding, "Although Yongsan's fault is the greatest, it is also puzzling that the police chief level was the first to be adjusted."

The police also find it unacceptable that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety was excluded from the forced investigations. While the police have conducted forced investigations on the police, fire department, Yongsan District Office, Seoul Transportation Corporation, and Hamilton Hotel, no search or seizure has been conducted on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which is in charge of disaster management.

Regarding this, the police responded, "Legal review has not been completed." Currently, investigations into Ministry of the Interior and Safety officials are also sluggish. Amid the grim atmosphere, voices of self-reflection are emerging.

A police officer in the Seoul area said, "November is usually a time when personnel evaluations are completed and people encourage each other for their hard work, but this year the overall atmosphere is quiet," adding, "Guidelines related to public service discipline keep coming down, so everyone is tense."

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