Police Agency Initiates Consultation on Revised 'Autonomous Police'... Frontline Officers Express Growing Dissatisfaction

Ruling Party, Government, and Blue House Agree to Unify National and Local Police
Briefing Session for Workplace Councils Held Today

Confusion Inevitable Due to Sudden Change
No Details on Personnel or Budget
Concerns Over Hasty Implementation of Key 'Police Reform' Task...

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the 'Party-Government-Cheongwadae Council for Power Institution Reform for the People' held at the National Assembly on the 30th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] As the ruling party, government, and presidential office announced a revised autonomous police promotion plan changing from a dual system model to a unified model, the National Police Agency has begun collecting opinions through the nationwide Police Officers' Workplace Council (Jikhyup). However, frontline police officers are expressing dissatisfaction, saying that the sudden change inevitably causes confusion and that the briefing sessions are conducted in a 'take action first, report later' manner.

According to the police on the 31st, the National Police Agency will hold a briefing session for the Workplace Council regarding the introduction of autonomous police at the police headquarters in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The briefing will explain the progress of discussions on the introduction of autonomous police so far and the major changes, and will proceed by collecting opinions from the field.

However, frontline police officers are voicing strong dissatisfaction with the ruling party, government, and presidential office's autonomous police introduction plan and the National Police Agency's response. The reason is that the previously continuously discussed dual system model of national police and autonomous police was suddenly changed to a unified model, making confusion on the ground inevitable. A local police officer active in the Workplace Council said, "There was no prior opinion gathering, and suddenly changing the big framework causes great confusion among the frontline."

The previous ruling party, government, and presidential office's autonomous police promotion plan was a 'dual system' model that completely separated the organization, personnel, budget, and affairs of the national police and autonomous police. However, the plan announced the day before was changed to a 'unified' model that only separates affairs and command and supervision rights. Moreover, only the model type was announced, but important details related to personnel and budget were not included. Another senior police officer from a provincial police agency said, "The biggest concern for frontline police officers is what will happen to my status, who holds the personnel authority, and these parts were not explained at all," adding, "This means that no detailed content has been decided, and there is concern that the autonomous police, which will have a significant impact on public security and safety, is being pushed hastily."

It is expected that such dissatisfaction from frontline police officers will continue to be raised at the National Police Agency's briefing session. The National Police Agency stated, "We will continuously collect opinions from the field, including holding regional on-site meetings."

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