President Lee: "Stripping State Medals from Perpetrators of State Violence Is Overdue but Necessary"

Comprehensive Review of Over 70,000 Police Honors

Police Honors Likely to Be Revoked for Torture and Fabrication of Cases

Lee: "Will Also Push to Eliminate Statutes of Limitations for State Violence Crimes"

President Lee Jae-myung on March 29 emphasized regarding the police’s comprehensive review to revoke honors, “Stripping medals and decorations from the worst perpetrators of state violence—those responsible for torture, fabricated cases, and judicial murder—is long overdue but an absolutely necessary measure.”

President Lee made this statement while sharing a related article on X (formerly Twitter) that day.

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering a commemorative speech for the West Sea Defense Day at the National Daejeon National Cemetery on March 27, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

The police have launched a comprehensive investigation to revoke state honors awarded to investigators who were recognized for their roles in torture and fabricating spy cases under authoritarian regimes. The investigation covers more than 70,000 government awards—including medals and commendations from the President and Prime Minister—conferred on police officers since the establishment of the police in 1945.

In relation to this, President Lee pledged, “I will also push for legislation to exclude criminal and civil statutes of limitations for state violence crimes.”

In addition, President Lee said, “Today, I will pay tribute at the Jeju April 3 Incident memorial, which marks one of the worst state violence events,” and mourned, “I pray for the souls of those who were stabbed with spears, shot with carbines, or buried alive for no reason, without even knowing why.”

He further declared, “I will ensure that such tragedies never happen again in the Republic of Korea.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.