Within the Democratic Party of Korea, voices are criticizing police over the false closure of the disappearance case of Jang Mi-ran in Jeju. A Democratic Party lawmaker who is a former police officer also repeatedly apologized, saying the person had "committed a mortal sin." With President Lee Jae-myung calling for steps such as forming a "police reform body," the Democratic Party is expected to speed up "police reform."
Democratic Party lawmakers Lee Gwang-hee, Park Ju-min, Kim Young-bae, Yoon Kun-young, and Lim Ho-seon; Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in; Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Jeong Chun-saeng; the Police Reform Network; and the Prime Minister's Committee for Grand Social Reform held a forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the morning of the 25th under the theme "Democratic police reform trusted by the people."
Lim Ho-seon, a former Vice Administrator of the Korean National Police Agency and now a lawmaker, said before the discussion, "First, I think I should begin by saying I am sorry. I am the person who oversaw the human rights police, civilian-led police innovation, police renewal, and the New Police Promotion Group," adding, "The police still do not live up to their responsibilities. It seems I have committed a mortal sin."
Lim continued, "From the standpoint of someone who has regarded the police as everything in life, almost like a religion, I feel apologetic to the public over the recent series of police behaviors," and said, "Now seems to be the time to look back on whether the police have been reborn as a democratic police and to take responsibility."
After amending the Criminal Procedure Act to abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority, the Democratic Party appears cornered by successive cases of police misconduct, including the "bungled investigation of the Jang Yoon-gi case" and the "false closure of the disappearance of Jang Mi-ran." Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok appointed lawmaker Kim Nam-hee as head of the party's police reform task force, and floor leader Han Byeong-do signaled tough police renewal measures as the party moved to respond.
The Democratic Party will form roughly 10 members for the police reform task force. Half of the members will be filled by experts, figures from civil society, and heads of victim groups. Democratic Party lawmakers who are former police officers are expected to participate as advisors.
At a floor countermeasures meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the same day, floor leader Han Byeong-do said, "The police now stand on their final testing ground that will determine whether they can regain the public's trust," adding, "The Democratic Party will not allow this false closure of a missing-person case to spread into public anxiety and distrust about the new criminal justice system."
At a Cabinet meeting held the same day, the president also called for police reform measures. The president said, "Recently, problems of lax discipline within the police and irresponsibility regarding public safety have emerged quite seriously," and added, "Gather public opinion extensively and design measures on how to carry out police reform."