President Lee Jae-myung directed the preparation of a police-reform agency during a cabinet meeting Tuesday morning [1, 2].
The move signals a significant shift in government oversight of law enforcement following a series of failures that have eroded public trust in national security and safety protocols.
Lee said police discipline had become lax and irresponsible [1, 2]. He specifically cited the handling of the Jeju missing-person case as a primary example of these failures, noting that growing public concern necessitated a formal reform body [1, 2].
Speaking at the Blue House's Chunchu Hall, the president questioned whether the police were fulfilling the responsibilities associated with their extensive authority [1]. He said doubts had arisen regarding their ability to carry out those duties, prompting the need to determine how the police should be reformed [1].
Following the morning's directives, the president hosted a dinner at the Blue House for the new leadership of the Democratic Party [1, 2]. The gathering occurred as the administration seeks to align its legislative agenda with party leadership to ensure the proposed police reforms are implemented efficiently.
Critics of the current police structure have long argued that the organization lacks sufficient external accountability. By establishing a dedicated reform agency, the administration aims to address the systemic issues that Lee described as a lack of responsibility within the force [1, 2].
“President Lee Jae-myung directed the preparation of a police-reform agency.”
The directive to create a police-reform agency suggests the administration is moving toward a more centralized or restrictive oversight model for law enforcement. By linking the reform to a specific failure—the Jeju missing-person case—the government is utilizing a high-profile public grievance to build political momentum for structural changes that may redistribute police authority.
