Launch of Dedicated 'Police Reform' Organization... Will Reform Accelerate?

National Police Agency Launches 'People-Centered Police Reform Headquarters'
Pursuing Tasks Such as Investigation Authority Reform and Autonomous Police

The plaque unveiling ceremony announcing the launch of the 'People-Centered Police Reform Headquarters,' a dedicated organization for police reform, was held on the 12th. From the left: Choi Gwan-ho, Planning and Coordination Officer of the National Police Agency; Song Min-heon, Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency; Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency; Woo Cheol-moon, Head of the Police Reform Unit. Photo by National Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A dedicated police organization to discuss follow-up measures for the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution, and the introduction of autonomous police, has been launched. As discussions on related bills have begun at the National Assembly level, attention is focused on whether the pace of police reform can accelerate.

On the morning of the 12th, the National Police Agency held a plaque ceremony for the "People-Centered Police Reform Headquarters" at the police agency building in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. This reflects the intention to unify related tasks that were previously scattered across various functions such as the Investigation Structure Reform Group and the Autonomous Police Promotion Group, and to promote comprehensive and systematic police reform.

The Police Reform Headquarters, led by Deputy Commissioner Song Min-heon as the head, will carry out legislative promotion related to police reform including ▲ follow-up measures for investigative authority adjustment ▲ introduction of the autonomous police system ▲ reform of intelligence police ▲ transfer of counterintelligence investigative authority ▲ reform of the Police University ▲ actualization of the Police Commission, as well as prepare for organizational and administrative restructuring of the police in accordance with the reforms.

Additionally, under the Police Reform Headquarters, a working body called the "People-Centered Police Reform Group" will be established, with the head of the National Police Agency’s Autonomous Police Promotion Group concurrently serving as the head of the Police Reform Group. This is intended to systematically prepare for the introduction of autonomous police, the biggest current issue in police reform. The Police Reform Group will be composed of two teams led by senior superintendents: the Police Reform Inspection Team and the Police Reform Communication Team. They will be responsible for the operation of the Police Reform Headquarters, inspection and coordination of tasks, and securing the support of frontline police officers for reform initiatives.

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, said, "This is a time when public expectations and demands for public safety, fair law enforcement, and police reform are greater than ever." He added, "We will focus the direction of police reform solely on enhancing the rights and interests of the people, continuously monitor the progress, and strive to achieve results that the public can empathize with."

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