Borrowing a Drone for Research Violates Kim Young-ran Act? ... Police Say "All Have Been Returned"

Drone Development Advisory Group "Return Condition After 3 Years Exists"
Opposition to Chungbuk Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit's Continued Investigation

Police officers who were booked on charges of receiving research drones after participating as advisors in a small drone development research project have filed a joint criminal complaint against officials of the National Police Agency.

Eight police officers belonging to the small drone development advisory group and the National Police Workplace Council (Police Workplace Council) held a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on the 22nd in front of the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, stating, "We participated in the small drone research and development trusting the National Police Agency because it was organized and promoted by them, but two years into the project, we became subjects of investigation under the Kim Young-ran Act."

Police officers who were booked on charges of receiving research drones after participating as advisors in a small drone development research project have filed a joint criminal complaint against National Police Agency officials.
[Photo by National Police Officers Association]

Those who applied to the police advisory group for the development of drones for security field use, formed in September 2021, received one drone each worth a total of 45 million KRW from a drone company participating in the research project in November of the same year, under the condition of returning them after three years.

However, on October 27 of last year, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency booked them for violating the Kim Young-ran Act, causing issues. Since the investigation began, the advisory group members have been on standby orders for several months.

They claimed, "We disclosed evidence twice, including company statements, receipts for goods received, and meeting minutes, proving that the drones were leased for research purposes." They also stated that all drones leased immediately after the investigation started were returned to the company, presenting return receipts as well.

Although the National Police Agency’s Future Security Bureau and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission stated that "receiving research supplies is not illegal," the investigation team is reportedly pushing forward with sending the case for prosecution, according to them.

Finally, they submitted a complaint accusing the National Police Agency officials who planned the research project of being joint offenders violating the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft (Kim Young-ran Act).

They said, "The National Police Agency, which proceeded with the project without sufficient review, must also bear joint responsibility," and filed a complaint with the National Police Agency accusing four officials who supervised the project at the time as joint offenders under the Kim Young-ran Act.

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