Sixty-six police officers were fired after committing sex crimes from 2014-2016, but about half of them have since returned to work following successful appeals against the punishment, police data showed Saturday. According to the data 17 regional police agencies across the country submitted to Rep. Park Nam-chun of the ruling Democratic Party, a total of 148 officers were disciplined for sexual offenses during the three years, with 27 in 2014, 50 in 2015 and 71 last year.

Of them, 66 were fired as their offenses were serious, such as rape.However, 31 of them have since come back to work after having the punishment commuted through appeals, the data showed."Sex offenses by police officers keep happening, even though the police chief promised several times to eradicate them," Park said. "More fundamental measures are necessary, such as preventive education, along with strong punishment." (Yonhap)