[The Public=Reporter Choi Eol] At the joint commissioning ceremony for new police officers on March 17, 2026, President Lee Jae-myung urged attendees to put into practice the Constitution’s principle that everyone is equal before the law, regardless of rank, and to ensure that those who follow the rules are not disadvantaged.
The president attended the commissioning ceremony for new lieutenants and captains at the National Police Academy in Asan, Chungcheongnam Province, on the afternoon of March 17, 2026 with his wife, Kim Hye-kyung. The officers commissioned that day totaled 153: 93 cadets from the 42nd Police Academy class, 50 lieutenants selected through the 74th open recruitment, and 10 recruits hired through the lawyer-career competitive track.
In his congratulatory address, he said South Korea boasts one of the lowest violent-crime rates among developed countries and a very high crime-clearance rate. \"It is thanks to the police that our citizens and the many international visitors to Korea can walk the streets late at night without major concern,\" he said.
He added that the police have led efforts to crack down on transnational scam operations and to prevent victimization, making a significant contribution to public safety. \"The saying that anyone who harms Koreans will be ruined has become reality because of your efforts,\" he said.
