Police Consider Annual Drug Testing for Over 14,000 Officers Including Commissioner

Police Agency: "Measures to Raise Internal Awareness"

The police are considering implementing drug tests starting next year for high-ranking officers at the rank of Chief Superintendent and above, as well as for about 14,000 personnel, which is 10% of those ranked Superintendent and below.

According to the police on the 22nd, the National Police Agency recently established an internal drug testing plan with this content, requested a related budget of 414 million won for next year from the National Assembly, and the relevant budget was approved by the Administrative Safety Committee, the standing committee in charge, on the 7th.

Once the budget is confirmed, starting next year, all approximately 800 high-ranking police officers, including Deputy Commissioner General, Commissioner General, Senior Superintendent, and Chief Superintendent, will undergo drug testing annually. Among those ranked Superintendent and below, 10% of the total 130,000 personnel will be selected for drug testing. The testing method will involve saliva collection instead of urine.

The internal drug testing by the police was prepared to enhance public trust in the police amid the increasingly serious domestic drug situation. Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, stated at last month’s National Assembly Administrative Safety Committee comprehensive audit that he "100% agrees" with the People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong’s suggestion that regular drug tests for police officers are necessary, and that the agency is internally establishing such a plan.

However, there has been some backlash within the police, with some saying, "It is unfair to treat police officers as potential drug criminals when drug-related investigations are not conducted solely by the police." A National Police Agency official said, "This measure is not to uncover drug use among police officers, but to strengthen public trust in the police amid the need to intensify drug crackdowns," adding, "It is intended to raise awareness within the police force."

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