The National Police Agency has demoted a senior officer from the Chungbuk Police Agency, identified as A, after he drove under the influence and collided with eight vehicles and a motorcycle.
According to Yonhap News, the police agency announced on October 13 that the decision was made during a disciplinary committee meeting held the previous day.
Disciplinary actions for police officers can range from severe penalties such as dismissal, demotion, and suspension to lighter penalties like salary reductions and reprimands.
Officer A was found guilty of hitting seven parked cars and one motorcycle in an alley in Cheongju's Yongam-dong at around 7:30 a.m. on March 11. He received a summary order to pay a fine of 10 million won on July 24. At the time of the incident, his blood alcohol concentration was 0.124%, which exceeds the legal limit for driving.
This disciplinary action comes seven months after the incident. The delay in the disciplinary process has drawn criticism for being slow, especially since the court had already confirmed the sentence.
Meanwhile, the Chungbuk Police Agency, to which Officer A belongs, has recently faced allegations of misconduct. A deputy chief at a local police station is under investigation for reportedly sending an employee on a liquor run during night shifts and improperly restricting vacation usage. Additionally, another officer at a different police station is being scrutinized for allegedly harshly reprimanding staff during work directives.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.