After an affair scandal erupted between fellow police officers at a police station in North Gyeongsang, a claim was raised that a public fund card intended for investigative purposes was used as a dating expense, prompting police to launch an internal audit.
According to the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency on the 22nd, Officer A, a sergeant in their 30s working at a police station in North Gyeongsang, and Officer B, a patrol officer in their 20s in the same department, are suspected of maintaining an improper relationship since last year.
They reportedly took trips without the knowledge of A's wife, C, or frequently came and went from B's home, where B lives alone, carrying on a clandestine affair.
Their relationship began to unravel in February when C happened to look at her husband A's cell phone. At the time, C tried to buy daily necessities using A's cell phone shopping application (app) and found that an unfamiliar studio apartment address was set as the delivery location.
Finding this suspicious, C checked the phone and discovered numerous details not only of stays at lodgings in other areas such as Pohang, Andong, and Jecheon, but also videos of the two celebrating a birthday alone at B's home. Enraged, C in April filed a petition through the public complaint portal, the National Sinmungo, reporting related misconduct.
Separately, A and B are also suspected of swiping an investigative activity card issued for official duties for personal use at restaurants or cafes after working hours.
During the internal audit, they admitted having an improper relationship but were reported to have denied the allegation that they used the official-duty card for private purposes.
A public official having an affair with another person while married does not immediately lead to criminal punishment under current law. However, public officials are obligated to maintain a higher standard of dignity than the general public.