Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Park Jung-bo responding to a protest visit by opposition lawmakers. [Photo = Yonhap News TV Screen Capture]

The police are an agency that enforces the law, not an agency that intimidates the public. Arrest and investigation powers are entrusted to protect the people, not to be weapons to subdue citizens by flaunting police power.

However, Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Park Jung-bo crossed this basic line.

At a regular press briefing at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on June 15, Commissioner Park stated to citizens gathered at Olympic Park to protest the shortage of ballots in the June 3 local elections, "If you sympathize with illegal activities and are subsequently charged as an accomplice, you could face ruin."

He added, "Korean police are the best at identifying and arresting people. We can do it anytime if we set our minds to it."

If illegal activities occurred, evidence should be secured, an investigation conducted, and responsibility held according to the law. Guilt or innocence is determined by the court, not prejudged by the investigative agency.

Yet, the head of the police responsible for security in the capital city of Seoul warned citizens of "ruin" from the outset of the investigation and boasted about the police's arrest capabilities.

This was not an explanation of the law, but an injection of fear regarding police power.

Commissioner Park announced that day that the police had identified six individuals, three each in the case of checking the belongings of junior athletes and the journalist-related case, as "active participants." However, whether they are active participants and what crimes are constituted are issues to be determined through future investigations and trials.

It is a departure from the principle of presumed innocence and the restrained language expected of an investigative agency for the head of the police to publicly emphasize severe penalties and accomplice punishment and mention "ruin."

"Ruin" can be interpreted as an intent to destroy not only an individual's criminal liability but also their family and livelihood. The Korean criminal justice system is a system that holds the perpetrator responsible, not a system of guilt by association that extends fear to family members.

Furthermore, arrest is not something the police can do "if they set their minds to it." It must follow legal requirements, due process, and judicial oversight.

Commissioner Park's remarks reveal an arrogant view of power, suggesting that the police are not bound by law but can apprehend citizens at will.

His demeanor when confronted with the protest visit was even more outrageous.

On the afternoon of June 16, the day after the problematic remarks, nine lawmakers from the People Power Party visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to demand an apology and explanation.

However, the police repeatedly imposed conditions regarding media participation and the public nature of the meeting. According to the opposition party, even after the lawmakers conceded to excluding the media, the meeting was not immediately held, and they had to wait for about 50 minutes.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency refused media participation, citing reasons such as the Commissioner's office being a "investigative security facility." In the end, a clash occurred between police officials and aides as the lawmakers proceeded directly to the Commissioner's office.

The testimony of the lawmakers who witnessed the scene is specific and consistent.

It is reported that Lee Gwan-hyung, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's security division, twisted the arm of a lawmaker's aide who was filming and grabbed their neck, choking them. Outcries of "Why are you grabbing his neck and causing such a scene?" were heard from the lawmakers at the scene.

Lawmaker Shin Dong-wook also stated that the security chief attempted to choke him while obstructing his aide's filming.

This is not a matter to be downplayed as a mere "scuffle" or "controversy over the use of physical force." If a high-ranking police official grabbed and choked the neck of an opposition lawmaker's aide, as witnesses testify, it is a clear assault.

Even if there were reasons to restrict filming, it does not grant the authority to forcibly take away a mobile phone, twist an arm, or choke someone.

The police warned citizens of "ruin" by mentioning charges of special coercion, confinement, and the possibility of complicity in their actions.

If so, stricter standards should be applied to the alleged assault by a high-ranking police official within their own building.

If the police are quick to mention serious crimes for a citizen's mere gesture but remain silent about the violence of a police official, it is not the rule of law. It is merely organized double standards, using uniforms and positions as a shield.

The response given by Commissioner Park in his meeting with opposition lawmakers on June 16 was also difficult to call an apology.

Regarding the problematic remarks, he stated, "It was intended to caution that if one gets swept up in the atmosphere, they could face severe punishment. It seems the expression was harsh." He adopted a conditional stance, saying, "It might have been excessive," but did not clearly admit what was wrong or offer a formal apology to the public.

When intimidating the public, he made a definitive statement: "You could face ruin." When flaunting police power, he confidently declared, "We can arrest you anytime if we set our minds to it." However, when called to account, he hid behind a conditional statement: "It seems the expression was harsh."

The intimidation was definitive, while the apology was conditional.

Police power is the most direct and powerful public authority that the state can exercise over its citizens. Agencies with handcuffs, physical force, arrest powers, and investigative powers require even more restrained language and strict self-control.

When the head of the police begins to boast about his authority and instill fear in the public, the police force serving the citizens devolves into the police force of the authorities.

This incident cannot be dismissed as a mere slip of the tongue by Commissioner Park.

On June 15, the threatening remarks that painted citizens as potential accomplices and the power-driven attitude that boasted of the police's arrest capabilities were revealed.

On June 16, the arrogant attitude of repeatedly delaying the meeting with opposition lawmakers and the allegations of assault by a high-ranking police official on aides followed.

all of these events occurred consecutively over two days under Commissioner Park's command responsibility.

The National Police Agency must immediately preserve the relevant videos and the building's CCTV footage and independently investigate the allegations of assault and forced attempt to seize mobile phones by Security Division Chief Lee Gwan-hyung.

Commissioner Park and the relevant security chief should be immediately suspended from their duties, and a formal apology should be extended to the victimized aides and opposition lawmakers.

The appointing authority, Lee Jae-myung, must no longer remain silent. There is a saying that silence makes one an accomplice.

The command staff that warned the public of "ruin" with police power entrusted to protect the people and treated opposition lawmakers who came to protest with disdain cannot continue to be in charge of security in Seoul.

The head of the police who insulted the public has lost the qualification to lead the police force serving the public.

Dismiss Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Park Jung-bo immediately.