APEC-Dispatched Police Caught Drinking and Vomiting at Accommodation

Inappropriate Conduct at Accommodation with Food Ban
Police Ordered to Return and Face Internal Audit

The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, already facing a series of controversies over negligence in duty, is now embroiled in another scandal after officers dispatched to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju caused a stir over alcohol consumption. According to Yonhap News on October 29, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency reported that it had ordered the return of five officers from Changwon Seobu Police Station, who had recently been dispatched to support security and guard duties at the APEC Summit, as of the previous day.

On the 27th, marking the start of the 2025 Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit Week, police fully restricted traffic on a road in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, to Bomun Complex, where the APEC Summit venue and other major event sites are located. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

These officers were dispatched on October 27 to provide on-site support and were staying at a corporate training center in downtown Gyeongju. The accommodation was designated specifically for summit participants and security personnel, with a strict ban on bringing in or delivering food and beverages. Despite these rules, the officers reportedly consumed alcohol at the facility and engaged in inappropriate behavior, including vomiting inside the premises. The next day, a staff member at the accommodation discovered the incident and reported it to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency. Upon receiving this information from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency immediately ordered all five officers to return. The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency confirmed that the officers had consumed alcohol during their break after finishing their duties. In light of recent controversies, the agency plans to conduct an internal audit regarding this incident.

An official from the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency stated, "We are currently verifying the exact details of the incident involving these officers. Although they claimed to have drunk alcohol during their break to boost morale, their inappropriate conduct while dispatched to a national event has undermined the reputation of the police." The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency has deployed a total of 1,148 police personnel to support security and guard duties for this summit.

Meanwhile, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency has recently faced criticism for repeated negligence in internal management. Earlier, at the end of September, Changwon Seobu Police Station came under fire when a motorcycle, which had been confiscated from a teenage theft suspect, was stolen. The police had stored the confiscated motorcycle without a lock, resulting in it being stolen twice in succession. Moreover, it was revealed that the officers did not notice the thefts for more than two weeks, sparking further criticism over poor internal management.

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