A police officer known to have been personally praised by President Lee Jae-myung has been selected as a recipient of a special award newly created this year.
According to police and others on the 18th, the Korean National Police Agency decided on a 2 million won award for Inspector Heo Jeong-hoon of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Security Intelligence Analysis Division at the first prize review committee held recently.
Inspector Heo was recognized for his contribution in checking the websites of 1,626 public institutions and reporting 10 cases that incorrectly labeled the East Sea as the Sea of Japan and Dokdo as the Liancourt Rocks.
Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik earlier disclosed on the YouTube show "Kim Ou-joon's Humility Is Hard News Factory" on the 2nd that the president had personally praised Inspector Heo.
It is said that after receiving a related report from Chief of Staff Kang, the president said, "This probably wasn't an idea from someone high up; it must have been the idea of the responsible public official," and instructed, "Find them and at least give them an award." When briefed that "there are procedures and standards for awards," the president reportedly instructed, "Then at least send pizza from the presidential office."
In line with the president's directive last December to give bold rewards to public officials who deliver outstanding results, the police recently established a "special performance award system" and selected 31 cases, including Inspector Heo.
Seven officers, including Superintendent Park Dong-gi of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency, who arrested 135 people and rescued 4 within just over 50 days in Cambodia's "Korea task force," will each receive a 20 million won reward. Five officers, including Inspector Yoon Hee-cheol of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, who arrested a suspect for a false high school bomb threat, and six officers, including Inspector Lee Young-jae of the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, who busted a concert scalping ring, will each receive 5 million won.