By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Nearly 80 percent of Koreans hold negative views on law enforcement, although the majority still believe the Constitution protects basic rights, a survey showed Monday.
About 44 percent said law enforcement was ``authoritarian,'' while 33 percent said ``unfair,'' as opposed to 14 percent who said ``democratic'' and nine percent who said ``fair.''
The Korea Legislation Research Institute surveyed 3,700 people aged 19 and over from April 30 to June 7. Judge Park Chul released the results of the survey at a symposium co-organized by the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court in Seoul.
Nearly 60 percent said others tend not to abide by the law, as opposed to 37 percent who said they did. About five percent said the law is not observed at all.
On why they do not abide by the law, 34 percent said observance would result in damage or losses and 20 percent said others don't follow the law, so why should they?
Judge Park said negative public opinions of the law made it difficult for judicial authorities to carry out the law's core function _ arbitration according to different interests.
But on the Constitution, most Koreans showed a positive response. Eighty-six percent said they agreed that the Constitution is to protect the basic rights of the people, while only 14 percent disagreed.
Sixty-four percent said the Constitution is the highest law to maintain the community and 45 percent said it exists to protect the underprivileged.