National Police Agency [Yonhap News TV provided]The Citizens' Oversight Committees, established within each provincial and metropolitan police agency to monitor police misconduct, appear to be virtually defunct.

The Citizens' Oversight Committees, intended to prevent police from protecting their own, are stipulated to involve external experts from academia, the legal field, and civic groups, and to hold regular meetings every two months.

However, no provincial or metropolitan police agency has met these requirements recently. In the meantime, the number of police officers disciplined for various misconduct has exceeded 500 annually.

According to data submitted by National Assembly member Seo Beom-soo of the People Power Party from the National Police Agency on the 31st, the Citizens' Oversight Committees were convened 2 to 3 times per provincial and metropolitan agency last year.

Six agencies, including Gwangju, Gangwon, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Jeju, held the committee meetings three times each, while the remaining 12 agencies, including the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the largest in the nation, held them twice.

None of the agencies complied with the regulation to hold at least six meetings annually. The 2 to 3 meetings held last year appear to be a slight increase, possibly in response to criticism that the committees were in "limbo."

Previously, in 2024, nine provincial and metropolitan police agencies (Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Ulsan, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongnam, and Jeju) did not hold the Citizens' Oversight Committee meetings even once, accounting for half of all agencies.

Number of Citizens' Oversight Committee Meetings by Year [Provided by Seo Beom-soo's office. Reproduction and database prohibited]

During the periods when the Citizens' Oversight Committees were inactive, the number of disciplinary actions against police officers steadily increased.

The number of disciplinary actions against police officers, which was in the 400s from 2021 to 2023, surged to the 500s starting in 2024. In 2024 and 2025, 536 and 528 disciplinary actions were taken, respectively.

The highest level of disciplinary action, dismissal, surged from 61 cases in 2023 to 98 in 2024 and 100 in 2025. When demotion and suspension are included, nearly half of the disciplinary actions last year were severe.

This renders moot the argument from some within the police that the committees were not convened due to a lack of serious misconduct cases warranting deliberation.

The reasons for disciplinary action are also not minor. Last year, drunk driving violations were the most frequent with 68 cases, followed by sexual misconduct with 50 cases, dereliction of duty with 48 cases, and bribery with 27 cases.

With the abolition of the prosecution service scheduled for October, issues of police misconduct are continuously being brought to the forefront.

A prime example is the Gangnam Police Station, where the entire line of investigative and criminal affairs division chiefs (senior superintendents) was recently replaced due to allegations of covering up a fraud case involving broadcaster Yang Jung-won in exchange for money. In March, the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency issued a "special alert" following a series of drunk driving accidents involving its officers.

Number of Disciplinary Actions Against Police Officers by Year [Provided by Seo Beom-soo's office. Reproduction and database prohibited]

Experts have recommended that the police strengthen external oversight by moving beyond internal control focused solely on the audit office, and by making the Citizens' Oversight Committees permanent institutions or by revitalizing the ombudsman system.

Lee Yoon-ho, a professor of Police Administration at Dongguk University, stated, "Convening the Citizens' Oversight Committee once or twice a year is a nominal meeting that achieves nothing." He added, "For the police, who wield significant authority that restricts citizens' bodies and freedom, it is essential to be thoroughly monitored and controlled to escape public distrust." (Yonhap News)