Corruption scandal prompts airport police shake-up

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- The National Police Agency (NPA) said Wednesday it
will replace about 70 percent of the Incheon International Airport Police Squad's
officers in a reshuffle following a gold smuggling scandal.
The shake-up comes after two officers were caught last Friday helping a smuggler
pass airport security with 30 kilograms of gold concealed in a belt. Following
the incident, the chief of the police squad was removed from his post.
The NPA said that 81 of the squad's 115 officers who have served there for over
three years will be replaced.
Meanwhile, the police agency said it also plans to replace police inspectors with
poor performance records or those who have been considered unqualified for their
current posts in a bid to improve the overall police image, which has been
tainted by a series of malfeasance cases.
According to a 2009 integrity assessment by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights
Commission, the NPA ranked at the bottom of 487 state-run institutions.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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