[Asia Exclusive] Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency... A Studious 'Jijang' and Communicative 'Deokjang'

Consul General in S?o Paulo, Brazil during Chief Superintendent tenure
Dispatched as Washington State Officer in the US during Senior Superintendent tenure

Established police roles including law enforcement and preventive activities through experience in both countries

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 27th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, who has dedicated 32 years to a career in the police force, has a unique background that other officers do not possess. During his time as a Senior Superintendent, he served as a consul at the Consulate General in S?o Paulo, Brazil, and as a police attach? in Washington, USA, during his tenure as a Commissioner, experiencing overseas assignments twice.

These experiences solidified his understanding of the importance of public safety and the role of police officers. In Brazil, where public safety conditions are relatively worse compared to Korea, he personally felt how deteriorating security leads to enormous social costs. Apartments were equipped with electric barbed wire and guard posts, and entering banks required security checks comparable to those for presidential offices. Numerous shops did not even dare to open at night. Kim recalled, "Brazil has excellent natural tourism conditions, but if the security had been better, the number of tourists would have increased two to three times," adding, "Poor security is fatal not only to individuals but also to the economy at social and national levels, and it definitely lowers the quality of life for individuals." This became a decisive moment for him to believe that "public safety infrastructure reflects national dignity."

On the other hand, his experience in the United States provided Kim with an opportunity to reflect on what law enforcement and preventive activities by police officers entail and how far they can go. The law enforcement by American police is considered quite strong, to the point that it may seem excessive from a Korean perspective. This is because broad immunity privileges are granted to police officers in their law enforcement. Although American police face much criticism for racial bias or biased law enforcement against certain individuals, Kim believes that appropriate police responses must be guaranteed by law and regulations. He emphasized, "If the police do not respond properly to danger, vulnerable social groups and local communities suffer." These two overseas experiences appear to have greatly influenced Kim’s public safety policies, which are represented by the vision of "the safest country and police who are respected and loved."

Another word that represents Commissioner Kim is "communication." It is well known that during his tenure as the head of provincial police agencies in Gyeongnam and Busan, he frequently met with civic groups and external experts to communicate about current issues. Internally, when frontline police stations apprehended major criminals or implemented noteworthy public safety policies, he personally invited the responsible officers to listen. This is why Kim is regarded both inside and outside the police force as a "wise leader" strong in communication and a "scholar leader" who values learning.

◇Profile of Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong

▲ Hapcheon, Gyeongnam (56 years old) ▲ Busan Gaya High School, Korean National Police University (4th class) ▲ Chief of Yeongi Police Station, Chungnam ▲ Head of Intelligence Division 1, National Police Agency ▲ Consul at the Consulate General in S?o Paulo, Brazil ▲ Chief of Eunpyeong Police Station, Seoul ▲ Head of Student Affairs, Korean National Police University ▲ Chief of Women and Juvenile Affairs Division, Seoul Police Agency ▲ 1st Deputy Commissioner, Gyeongnam Police Agency ▲ Police Attach? in Washington, USA ▲ Director of the Community Safety Bureau, National Police Agency ▲ Commissioner of Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency ▲ Commissioner of Busan Metropolitan Police Agency ▲ 22nd Commissioner of the National Police Agency (July 2020~)

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