President Lee urges police to "earn the trust of the people" and mentions expanding autonomous police system

[The Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea on the 17th called on the newly commissioned police lieutenants and captains to become "people's police who serve only the public, grounded in the love and trust of the people."
In his congratulatory address at the ceremony, President Lee stated, "All the power of the police comes solely from the firm trust of the people." He added, "There is no police force stronger than one that is loved by the people, and no name shines more brightly than that of police officers who live up to the people's trust."
President Lee noted, "The Republic of Korea (South Korea), one of the safest countries in the world, is made possible by the great sacrifices and dedication of our 140,000 police officers and their families." He continued, "South Korea boasts one of the lowest rates of violent crime and one of the highest crime clearance rates among advanced countries." He went on to say, "It is also thanks to your dedication that our citizens and the many foreign tourists who visit South Korea can walk the streets late at night without fear."
He further remarked, "Our police are taking the lead in eradicating transnational scam crimes and preventing victimization, making a major contribution to public safety." He added, "It is precisely thanks to your efforts that the saying 'If you target Koreans, you will be ruined' is becoming a reality."
He also stressed fairness and rigor in law enforcement. President Lee said, "On the front lines of protecting the daily lives of our people, the judgment and actions of each individual police officer set the standard for how the state exercises its public authority over citizens." He emphasized, "For that reason, the process of law enforcement by police officers must be meticulous, and its outcomes must always be just." He added, "I ask you to put into practice in the field the constitutional principle that those who follow the rules should not be disadvantaged, and that everyone is equal before the law regardless of status or rank."
President Lee went on to say, "Even at this very moment, the nature of crime and the public safety environment are becoming more complex by the day, transcending borders and technology, and expectations of our police are rising accordingly." He continued, "We must introduce advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) where they are most needed, and strengthen cooperation between countries and among relevant agencies, so that we can build the capacity to predict and block crime in advance." In particular, he stated, "Furthermore, we should gradually expand the autonomous police system and establish a dense, field-oriented public safety cooperation network that works closely with citizens."
President Lee also pledged, "The government will firmly support our 140,000 police officers and their families across the country so that they can focus solely on serving the people." He added, "We will carefully ensure that your special dedication to the public is met with special rewards, and that this in turn becomes a driving force for protecting the safety of our people."

west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo Reporter