Late Detective Lee Jong-woo and Inspector Yoo Jae-guk Posthumously Honored as Korea's First 'Interpol Fallen Officers'

Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency presented the posthumous Interpol Fallen Police Officer Certificate to the family of the late Sergeant Lee Jong-woo on the 6th.
[Photo by National Police Agency]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The late Sergeant Lee Jong-woo, who died in the line of duty while responding to heavy rains last summer at Uiamho Lake in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and the late Inspector Yoo Jae-guk, who died while searching for a missing person who jumped into the Han River, have been posthumously honored by the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO, Interpol) as Korea's first 'Interpol Fallen Police Officers.'

On the afternoon of the 6th, Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong invited the bereaved families to the National Police Agency building in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, personally presented the certificates of honor issued by Interpol, and offered condolences. This day also marked the first anniversary of Sergeant Lee Jong-woo's death in the line of duty.

Interpol has been operating a system since last year to collect and review cases of police officers who died in the line of duty in member countries, honoring their honor and achievements. The certification criteria apply to police officers belonging to law enforcement agencies of member countries who died in the line of duty while performing inherent police duties such as patrol, crime prevention, investigation, and crowd control since January of last year. The review is conducted based on recommendations from the heads of police agencies in each country.

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The National Police Agency explained, "We requested the Interpol General Secretariat to certify them as Interpol fallen police officers to remember their noble sacrifice and to promote the spirit of police dedicated to public safety." With this Interpol certification, the total number of Interpol fallen police officers worldwide has reached 19 from 7 countries.

Sergeant Lee Jong-woo was assigned to the Western District Unit of Chuncheon Police Station under Gangwon Provincial Police Agency. In August last year, during the heavy rain disaster, he responded to a report that an artificial aquatic plant island in Uiamho Lake was drifting away. While conducting rescue operations, his patrol boat capsized, resulting in his death in the line of duty. Inspector Yoo Jae-guk, who belonged to the Han River Police Unit under the Life Safety Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, was deployed in February last year to search for a missing person who jumped into the Han River but drowned and died in the line of duty.

The National Police Agency stated, "We will do our best to honor the noble spirit of sacrifice of these precious souls who devoted themselves to the nation and the people," and added, "We will continue to work closely with Interpol to enhance the achievements and honor of fallen police officers."

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