South Korean police face scrutiny over rising misconduct and disciplinary exceptions

Data released by the Korean National Police Agency reveals a rising trend in police misconduct and improper case handling. Between 2021 and June 2025, 355 officers were subject to inspections or disciplinary actions for issues such as false reporting and arbitrary case closures. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency recorded the highest number of such cases, with 98 officers, accounting for approximately 27% of the national total.

While the number of officers facing disciplinary measures has increased annually, many cases resulted only in warnings or cautions rather than severe punishment. Of the total, only 11 officers received heavy disciplinary actions, including one dismissal and one demotion.

Separate investigations highlight systemic issues in personnel management. Over the past five years, 312 officers disciplined for misconduct, including sexual harassment and drunk driving, were exceptionally reassigned to frontline community police stations (jigudae) despite regulations intended to restrict them from public-facing roles. These exceptions were often granted based on subjective criteria such as the officer’s “deep reflection” or their “years of investigative experience.” In response to recent controversies, including a false closure of a missing person case in Jeju, the police have issued a special alert to strengthen service discipline.