Frontline Police Officers' 22-Year Aspiration Realized with Official Launch of Police Workplace Council

National Police Agency, 'Police Agency Workers' Association' Inauguration Ceremony on 18th
Discussion on Improving Work Environment, Enhancing Work Efficiency, and Handling Grievances
Expectations for Democratization of Police Organization

National Police Agency Commissioner Min Gap-ryong (left) is presenting the establishment certificate of the Police Officers' Workplace Council to Lee So-jin, representative of the Police Officers' Workplace Council, and taking a commemorative photo. Photo by National Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The long-awaited 'Police Civil Servants Workplace Council (Jik-hyeop)' for frontline police officers has officially launched. Attention is focused on whether Jik-hyeop will serve as a catalyst not only for improving police officers' working conditions but also for changing the rigid organizational culture.

On the morning of the 18th, the National Police Agency held the 'National Police Agency Civil Servants Workplace Council Establishment Ceremony' in the 2nd conference room of the National Police Agency in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. This comes 22 years after the enactment of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Civil Servants Workplace Councils (Civil Servants Jik-hyeop Act).

Min Gap-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, presented the establishment certificate to Lee So-jin, representative of the National Police Agency Jik-hyeop (Lieutenant in the Human Rights Protection Officer Office), then moved to the first floor of the National Police Agency's South Building where the Jik-hyeop office was set up to attend the plaque unveiling ceremony. At this event, Representative Lee said, "We will actively resolve the hardships of colleagues that have gone unnoticed by communicating with the command."

Jik-hyeop is considered a preliminary stage to a labor union. Although it does not have the right to collective action, it can negotiate with the head of the affiliated institution on ▲improving working conditions ▲enhancing work efficiency ▲handling grievances. It secures at least the rights to organize and bargain. While general civil servants have been able to operate workplace councils since the enactment of the Civil Servants Jik-hyeop Act in 1998, police and fire personnel were excluded and thus could not have separate Jik-hyeop organizations.

Min Gap-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, along with the representative and members of the Police Officials' Workplace Council, unveiling the office signboard of the Police Officials' Workplace Council. / Photo by National Police Agency

The launch of the police Jik-hyeop also holds significant meaning as part of 'police reform.' If the ongoing adjustments to investigative authority between prosecutors and police, the introduction of the autonomous police system, and reforms of intelligence police are all institutional or external changes, then Jik-hyeop can function as a kind of 'internal reform mechanism.' It can change the police's vertical organizational culture and serve as a check-and-balance body that can raise issues against unjust orders from superiors.

The police Jik-hyeop is established in police stations where the head is a police superintendent or higher. This means that separate Jik-hyeop organizations can be established in 295 stations, including frontline police stations, provincial police agencies, police affiliated institutions, and superintendent-level riot squads and direct control units. The police Jik-hyeop will be independently established at each police station through voluntary participation of staff. Police officers eligible to join the Jik-hyeop are defined as those at the rank of police inspector or below, similar to general civil servants (grade 6 or below). However, those in ▲command and supervisory positions ▲personnel affairs ▲budget, accounting, and supplies management ▲secretarial duties ▲confidential work ▲security and guard duties are excluded. Except for these, it is expected that about 100,000 police officers will be able to join the Jik-hyeop. The police leadership is also showing anticipation for the establishment of the Jik-hyeop. Commissioner Min said, "I hope the Jik-hyeop will become a communication channel for members, a foundation for democratic operation of the organization, and a stepping stone for improving public safety services."

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