South Korean Police Officer Dismissed, Investigated for Grisly Social Media Posts
A former police inspector in South Korea has been dismissed from his position and is facing criminal charges after sharing disturbing images and insensitive commentary from a death investigation on social media. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and prompted a swift response from national police leadership.
On Thursday, November 11th, the Gyeonggi Ansan Sangnok Police Station announced that Inspector A, of the Gwangmyeong Police Station, had been booked on charges of leaking official secrets. The investigation stems from posts made on November 6th, following a call reporting “a person bleeding and lying down” in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province.
According to reports, Inspector A posted a photograph taken at the scene to social media, accompanied by the caption “Can anyone guess what this is?” He followed this with another post stating, “They say it’s a cold spell, but our nights are hot.” Disturbingly, he also allegedly commented, “You should not eat blood from now on” on a photo appearing to show bloodstains. A woman in her 20s was pronounced dead at the scene.
As the posts rapidly circulated online, Inspector A deleted the content and made his social media account private. The National Police Agency swiftly responded, announcing on November 10th that Inspector A had been dismissed and a full investigation ordered.
“This is something that cannot happen,” stated Acting Police Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong, directing officials to implement comprehensive preventative measures.
The investigation has revealed a particularly concerning detail: one of the images posted by Inspector A included a screenshot from the Automatic Fingerprint Search System (AFIS). The inspector reportedly attached a police officer emoticon with the text “The power of forensic investigation” to the image displaying a fingerprint presumed to belong to the deceased. Authorities believe the disclosure of this internal police information, inaccessible to the public, constitutes a serious breach of protocol and may be illegal.
During questioning, Inspector A reportedly claimed he intended to convey the challenges faced by police officers working in cold weather. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism. The head of the Gwangmyeong Police Station requested the investigation, which is now being led by the neighboring Ansan Sangnok Police Station. The Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency, a higher authority, is also conducting a separate inspection.
Police officials have determined that Inspector A’s actions constitute a violation of dignity under the National Civil Service Act and plan to convene a disciplinary committee upon completion of the inspection. Furthermore, the police have committed to locating and apologizing to the family of the deceased.
This incident underscores the critical need for stringent social media policies within law enforcement agencies and the importance of upholding respect for victims and their families. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for misuse of sensitive information and the devastating impact of insensitive behavior, even in the digital realm.
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