(Unofficial translation)

My fellow Koreans, 

With the graduation today, a total of 2,762 young police cadets take their first steps as proud police officers of the Republic of Korea. These young people chose to commit their lives to the people and country. I ask all Koreans to join us in congratulating them. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the family members who cheered the decisions of their precious sons and daughters or husbands and wives and have supported them. Central Police Academy President Lee Eun-jung and faculty have fulfilled an extraordinary job by nurturing each cadet to be a police officer who exudes a sense of duty and passion. 

Young police officers, 

The police represent the Government and the country as the closest contact with the people. As law enforcement officers, they are on the frontlines of serving the people in precinct offices, police boxes, patrol cars and when dispatched to foreign soil. As SWAT team members and Dokdo Security Police, they serve on security details close at hand to safeguard our neighborhoods and national border. 

In the face of difficulties, people look to you first. In the past year alone, four out of 10 Koreans, or nearly 20 million, have asked the police for help by calling 112. And you police officers have responded. 

In response to a report by a mother anxiously searching for her kidnapped daughter, police officers mobilized patrol cars and even helicopters to safely return the child to her mother. A 16-month-old baby, who stopped breathing while sleeping, regained consciousness in the arms of young police officers who carefully administered CPR with only two fingers to avoid hurting the infant. 

To rescue citizens on the brink of abandoning their lives, you dare to jump into cold rivers and cautiously approach the edges of high-rise rooftops. That’s why you are our heroes.  

Our people have confidence in your courage. The percentage of the people feeling that our country is safe rose to 75 percent this year from 69 percent in 2015. 

Our police’s ability to maintain public safety is growing increasingly stronger and is recognized globally.  

Deaths by crimes and traffic accidents decrease year by year, and the arrest rate for murder, robbery and sexual violence exceeds 95 percent.

Our country’s advanced public safety system has been exported to 110 countries, and every year over a thousand foreign police officers visit Korea to learn Korea’s world-class cybercrime response techniques. A Korean was elected as the president of Interpol, and increasingly our police answer calls to assist with cases involving international crimes – clear indicators of your rising status.   

Foreign tourists say they envy Korea’s high degree of public safety that lets them go out at night with ease of mind. Foreign dignitaries who visited during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics said that they were impressed at how the Korean police maintained order throughout the Games without being armed. All of this is attributable to your dedication. Many thanks to you all.

Today, we are together with a 19-year-old young adult who joined the police right after graduating from high school and a 45-year-old father who belatedly became a police officer to live up to his daughter's wish. 

Though your hearts are full of pride and passion, the road ahead will not always be smooth.

There will be days when you have to stay up all night and take risks even though you are very tired. Frequently, you might have to track down financial fraud, including voice phishing, and deal with vicious sex crimes such as illegal filming or date assault as well as other violent crimes related to murder or drugs, thereby experiencing this “extreme job” firsthand. 

Still, such moments as these are the ones when the people need you the most. I urge you to treat your neighbors in need with boundless warm-heartedness and with the sternness of autumn frost – regardless of their positions – confront those who disregard the law and harm our good neighbors. 

My fellow Koreans and young police officers,

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Provisional Republic of Korea Government. Korea’s police are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of their founding.  

One hundred years ago, on April 25, 1919, a police bureau was established by the Provisional Republic of Korea Government. Independence activist Kim Gu, who goes by the pen name of Baekbeom and considered himself the Provisional Government’s caretaker, was inaugurated as the bureau’s first commissioner. Kim Gu’s spirit of patriotism and caring for the people’s welfare became the root of our police. 

After liberation, many independence activists devoted themselves to police service and helped carry on the history of a democratic police force. Ahn Maek-gyeol, a niece of patriotic figure Ahn Chang-ho who goes by the pen name of Dosan, joined the female independence movement group Gyeolbaekdan and later became the third superintendent of the Seoul Women’s Police Station. Jeon Chang-sin, who played a leading role in the March First Independence Movement in Hamheung, became the superintendent of the Incheon Women’s Police Station. Choi Cheol-ryong, who raised military funds for the Korea Liberation Corps, became the commissioner of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Police Bureau. It has been confirmed so far that a total of 51 independent activists joined the police.

The spirit of pioneers who dedicated themselves to the people and the future of the nation became an inspiration for the police. The chief of Jeju Seongsanpo Police Station Mun Hyeong-sun refused an order to shoot civilians and saved numerous lives during the Jeju April 3 Incident. Gwangju Senior Superintendent General Ahn Byeong-ha also declined an order from the new military government to fire at civilians in May 1980. 

There were dark periods when the police abused their power and suppressed human rights against the people’s will, but our people continued to wait until the force was reborn on its own as police of the public, democratic police and police that uphold human rights. Amid the people’s expectations and support, 
the police showed the courage to transform themselves. 

Among the law enforcement agencies, the police became the first to launch a reform committee and accept a recommendation containing the people’s wishes while implementing reforms faster than any other agency.

The police are practicing human rights protection by setting up an onsite human rights counseling center at each police station. By establishing a fact-finding commission to investigate incidents involving human rights violations, the police have looked into a total of 10 cases and made official apologies. The police have taken the first steps toward giving consolation and hope to the victims and their family members as well as to the people.

I sincerely appreciate the endeavors of today’s police that are meeting the expectations of the people through innovation. 

Now, we are waiting for legislative proposals to pass the National Assembly that will adjust investigative authority between police and prosecutors and introduce a Korean-style autonomous police system. When investigative authority is adjusted and an autonomous police system is adopted, the police and citizens will grow closer and the quality of service displayed when maintaining public order and security will be improved. 

I urge the National Assembly to enact these legislative proposals as soon as possible to adjust investigative authority and introduce an autonomous police system. 

Nonetheless, let us not forget that what’s most important is for the police to gain the support and trust of the people.

Honorable young police officers, 

The treatment and welfare you receive as police officers are important for improving the people’s safety and quality of life.  

By expanding manpower and budget allocations, the Government is creating an environment where the police can concentrate on their work to maintain public order and security. Since the launch of my Administration, we have added 8,572 police officers so far and intend to increase the number of new police officers to 20,000 in total as we promised the people. The Government is also bringing the budget for field investigations up to a realistic level.   

Commensurate with the high intensity of your work, the Government is upgrading the health management infrastructure to include regular physical examinations and trauma therapy. 

Most of all, compensation has been increased for those who suffer disease, injury or death while facing risks on duty.  

The Government will enhance the police’s welfare to a greater level with the mindset that this is the first step toward advancing the people’s welfare.    

I always feel gratitude and compassion when thinking of you police officers for silently fulfilling your responsibility at the call of the people out in the field despite difficult conditions.

Your proud history has roots in the Provisional Republic of Korea Government and the painful legacy of the past; it all constitutes the history of the police. 

The future history of the police rests in your hands. I am looking forward to you writing the history of another century as police who lead a just society where everyone is treated fairly before the law. 

I hope that as much as the people and your neighbors have faith in you, you will put faith in the people and move even closer to them. The Government will also do all it can so that you will have pride and self-esteem as Republic of Korea police officers. 

As President of the Republic of Korea, I am very proud of you.  

Thank you.