Several South Korean police units have been recognized and awarded substantial bonuses for their successful investigations into significant cases of fake news dissemination and online criminal activity. The awards, totaling 97 million won (approximately $73,000 USD), were presented following a review of outstanding achievements by the National Police Agency’s special commendation and reward committee.
Key Investigations Earn Top Honors
Among the most notable recipients were three officers from the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency’s cybercrime investigation unit. Detective Lee Jin-hyung and his two colleagues were awarded 15 million won (approximately $11,300 USD) for their role in dismantling a network that spread false information, including a fabricated theory about the mandatory sale of US dollars. This fake news emerged during a period of heightened financial market instability, exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East, and had the potential to incite chaos in the foreign exchange market. The investigation presented considerable challenges, as identifying the initial source of the malicious rumors proved difficult.
Detective Lee Jin-hyung explained the innovative approach taken by his team. “We shifted our focus from the traditional method of identifying the poster based on data obtained from internet service providers,” he stated. “Instead, we concentrated on tracing the process of how the false information was created and disseminated, which ultimately allowed us to identify the perpetrators.”
This particular case gained significant public attention, even drawing a strong reaction from the President. After being briefed on the successful efforts to counter fake news and fabrications related to the Middle East conflict, the President reportedly expressed his strong disapproval, urging swift action with the memorable phrase, “Send pizza, even if it’s just pizza.” The investigators recalled the event, noting, “Although we had some doubts, the President’s ‘pizza’ arrived at the office that afternoon, and it’s something that will remain in our memories for a long time.”
Broader Recognition for Online Crime Busts
Other police units also received significant commendations. Three officers from the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, including Detective Jin Jae-won, were awarded 7 million won (approximately $5,300 USD) each. Their unit successfully apprehended 63 individuals involved in operating illegal online gambling sites that handled approximately 1.3 trillion won (about $1 billion USD) in transactions. Similarly, three officers from the Ulsan Provincial Police Agency’s crime prevention unit, including Detective Park Jae-han, received 7 million won each for dismantling an illegal online gambling operation that generated 3.3 billion won (about $2.5 million USD) in profits over three weeks, leading to the arrest of 23 individuals.
Further recognition was given to a team from the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency’s cybercrime unit, comprising Detective Park Sung-jun and two colleagues. They were awarded 12 million won (approximately $9,000 USD) for arresting two individuals who disseminated over 120,000 instances of child and adolescent sexual exploitation material. This case highlighted the critical role of law enforcement in combating severe online offenses.
Diverse Cases Acknowledge Dedicated Service
The commendations extended to a variety of other critical law enforcement efforts. Three officers from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency’s major crime investigation unit, including Senior Investigator Kang Jang-won, received 10 million won (approximately $7,500 USD) for their work in combating online fraud. Another group of three, including Administrative Officer Hwang Seon-ho from the National Police Agency’s 감사담당관 (Audit and Inspection Officer) division, were awarded 10 million won for their efforts in resolving unique and challenging civilian complaints against police officers.
Additionally, three officers from the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency’s traffic division, including Senior Investigator Jin Jae-won, were awarded 7 million won each for their crackdown on businesses that engaged in illegal sales practices, such as deceptive advertising and tax evasion. These diverse cases underscore the broad spectrum of challenges faced by the police and the varied nature of the achievements being recognized.
Commitment to Performance-Driven Culture
Yoo Jae-seong, the acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency, expressed his commitment to fostering a culture that values and rewards exceptional performance. “Moving forward, we will actively discover and reward public officials who achieve outstanding results that are tangible to the citizens,” he stated. “This will help solidify a performance-centered organizational culture.” This initiative aims to bolster morale and encourage continued dedication to public service and effective law enforcement across the nation.
