Lee orders full review of fire and police safety systems after firefighter's death
In short
President Lee Jae-myung told the 45th Cabinet meeting on 20 October that core public-safety functions such as fire services, police, disaster prevention and health care need major overhaul, and ordered a comprehensive review of the related systems. He spoke a day after the funeral of Bucheon firefighter Kim Jin-seok, and also told the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to investigate without regard to sides.
Read the full story 3 min read
President Lee Jae-myung said at the 45th Cabinet meeting, held at Cheong Wa Dae on 20 October, that major overhaul and reinforcement appear necessary for core public-safety functions: fire services, police, disaster prevention and health care. He asked ministers to comprehensively recheck the related systems so that both people facing danger and field personnel are thoroughly protected. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Lee opened by mourning Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok (김진석), whose funeral was held on 19 October. Electronic Times said Kim died while fighting a fire in Bucheon; Maeil Business and SBS News described it as a factory fire. Lee said the state would now be a family and a pillar of support for the bereaved, and wished the injured firefighters a recovery. He said threats to life and safety exist throughout daily life, citing fires, traffic accidents, natural disasters, relationship crimes, indiscriminate crimes, serious industrial accidents and suicide linked to isolation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Lee said deaths from industrial accidents, suicides and summer storm and flood damage have fallen greatly since his government took office, but that a long way remains. He called for breaking from past practice by expanding budget and staffing and pursuing effective institutional improvements. According to Newsis and Maeil Business, he also suggested a large-scale safety inspection of crowd-gathering facilities and bridges, saying there are fortunately no major accidents now but that one cannot be sure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On crime, Electronic Times and Maeil Business reported that Lee pointed to a string of relationship crimes and indiscriminate knife attacks that had raised public anxiety. He called for special measures so that such crimes are not repeated, and for zero tolerance toward hacking, illegal private lending, local corruption, voice phishing and drug crime. Maeil Business added that he urged the police to rebuild public trust ahead of the 81st Police Day on 21 October, saying that even with greater powers, a force without public trust is built on sand. [ 2 , 3 ]
Lee also addressed the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, which Electronic Times and Maeil Business described as having started under prosecution reform. He said the reform, which fully separates investigation from prosecution and places the prosecution agency (공소청) and the Serious Crimes agency under different ministries, is now institutionally complete. He asked the agency to mobilise its full investigative power against white-collar crime, power-related corruption and securities and financial crime, without distinguishing between sides, to prove its necessity to the public. Maeil Business said its head, Kim Ji-yong (김지용), attended a Cabinet meeting for the first time and replied that he would do his best to settle the agency and complete the reform. SBS News said Kim received his letter of appointment the day before. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
SBS News reported two further points. Lee said a firefighter's work is that of a 'small god', and he called for a housing supply 'blitz' by shortening the time needed from site preparation through permits to construction starts. SBS News also said Lee had earlier rejected criticism from opposition parties and civic groups that the head of an investigative agency attending Cabinet meetings risks neutrality. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The president linked the order to a firefighter's death and a run of violent crimes, and said budget and staffing should be expanded. The documents do not yet say what specific measures or spending will follow.
Key facts
- Lee Jae-myung spoke at the 45th Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He said fire services, police, disaster prevention and health care need major overhaul and reinforcement, and asked for a comprehensive, full review of the related systems. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The funeral of Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in a factory fire in Bucheon, was held on 19 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lee said the government should expand budget and staffing and pursue effective institutional improvements, breaking from past practice. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Lee told the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청, 중수청) to investigate white-collar crime, power-related corruption and securities and financial crime without sanctuary for any side. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lee called for special measures against relationship crimes and knife rampages, and zero tolerance toward hacking, illegal private lending, local corruption, voice phishing and drug crime. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- At the 20 October Cabinet meeting, Lee ordered a comprehensive review of the systems covering fire services, police, disaster prevention and health care, citing the need to protect both the public and field personnel. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lee mourned Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, whose funeral was held the previous day. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lee told the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to use its full investigative power against serious crime without distinguishing between sides, to prove the agency's necessity to the public. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lee said deaths from industrial accidents, suicides and summer storm and flood damage have fallen since his government took office, but that a long way remains. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Lee called for special measures so that violent crimes such as relationship crimes and knife rampages are not repeated, and for zero tolerance toward hacking, illegal private lending, local corruption, voice phishing and drug crime. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What concrete measures the review will lead to. Electronic Times wrote that the review appears to mean steps such as better treatment and equipment, which is the outlet's own reading; the other documents give no specifics.
- Lee's call for police to rebuild public trust ahead of the 81st Police Day on 21 October. Only Maeil Business reports these remarks.
- Lee's call for a 'blitz' of housing supply to stabilise the property market. Only SBS News reports this part of the meeting.
- Lee's rejection of criticism that the head of an investigative agency attending Cabinet meetings risks neutrality. Only SBS News reports that opposition parties and civic groups raised this and that Lee said earlier he could not agree.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis reports Lee's call at the Cabinet meeting for a full review of fire, police and disaster systems. [ 1 ]
- Electronic Times reports the Cabinet remarks, including the instruction to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business reports Lee's remarks to the agency's head, Kim Ji-yong, and to the police. [ 3 ]
- SBS News reports the meeting, including Lee's remarks on firefighters and housing supply. [ 4 ]