"Unified Autonomous Police" Field Officers' Backlash Intensifies... "Boycott of National Police Agency Meeting"

National Police Officers Association Emergency Committee Posts Statement on Police Intranet
Considering Solo Protest Against 'One-Way' Push

The Emergency Response Committee of the Police Workplace Council, the National Public Officials Union Police Agency Branch, and the Police Agency Clerks Union held a press conference on the 17th of last month in front of the Police Agency headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, demanding the repeal and reconsideration of the "Autonomous Police Act" proposed by Kim Young-bae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. They stated, "We urge the immediate suspension of the promotion of the Autonomous Police Act and call for sufficient listening to the public, academia, and field police opinions, reflecting them in the promotion of the autonomous police system even at this stage." / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] On-site police officers are raising their level of opposition to the unified model of the autonomous police system. They have declared a boycott of the Police Agency's 'notification-style' meetings and are considering holding solo protests after the National Assembly audit.

According to the police on the 14th, the Emergency Measures Committee of the National Police Workplace Council (Workplace Council Emergency Committee) issued a statement on the police internal network the day before, saying, "We will not participate in any public opinion gathering procedures, including the scheduled meetings related to the unified autonomous police system."

The Emergency Committee particularly expressed dissatisfaction with the Police Agency's one-way communication. The committee pointed out, "When members of the National Assembly ask the Police Commissioner about the concerns of on-site police officers, he replies that 'opinions are being collected,' but does not mention what opinions have been gathered." Regarding the refusal to attend the meetings, the committee stated, "We believe it is more efficient to point out the contradictions of the unified autonomous police system to the public, the National Assembly, and the media, and to explain the grounds that if the law passes, not only the field but also the public will suffer greatly."

On-site police officers are opposing the sudden change this July from the dual autonomous police model, which had been discussed for 14 years since the introduction of the Jeju autonomous police in 2006, to the unified model without any opinion gathering. Their main concern is that the transfer of local government affairs to the autonomous police will reduce the crucial emergency call response capability and cause harm to the public.

In response to the backlash from the field, the Police Agency is reportedly considering requesting the National Assembly to exclude duties such as ▲homeless protection ▲building security ▲local festival management from the autonomous police's responsibilities. However, on-site police officers plan to escalate their opposition, arguing that the unified model was flawed from the start. A representative of the Emergency Committee said, "After the National Assembly audit ends and discussions on related bills begin in earnest, we are also considering holding solo protests."

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