Full-scale Launch Next Year... Remaining Tasks of the 'Gongyong Police' '2W1H'

①Who is the Head of the National Investigation Headquarters?
②When will the Police Commission be Substantially Implemented?
③How to Reform the Intelligence Police?

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is giving a briefing on power institution reform at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] As legislation related to police reform is finalized, perspectives on the police, which will undergo major changes starting next year, are mixed. On one hand, there is hope that a de facto decentralized system will be established, increasing transparency in law enforcement. On the other hand, concerns about the police becoming overly powerful are growing. Naturally, attention is turning to the follow-up measures. Since worries persist about the lack of mechanisms to control the greatly strengthened police authority due to the adjustment of investigative rights and the transfer of counterintelligence investigative authority, measures to dispel these concerns, along with remaining tasks such as appointing the head of the National Investigation Headquarters (Guksubon), a key element in the decentralization of police power, are piling up.

◆Who will be the head of the National Investigation Headquarters?= The Guksubon, which will oversee police investigations, will launch on January 1 next year, unlike the autonomous police. Since the Guksubon will be formed by expanding and reorganizing the existing investigative units within the National Police Agency, no major difficulties are expected. The issue is who will take the symbolic position of the first head of the Guksubon, representing police reform. The head can be appointed from either inside or outside the police. Appointing from within the police could shorten the selection time but may contradict the purpose of police reform and face criticism for "increasing senior police positions." Conversely, appointing from outside could uphold the reform spirit as it would be the first open recruitment for a senior position at the rank of Police Commissioner General or higher. However, it is uncertain whether this can be done in the roughly two weeks remaining before the Guksubon’s launch. National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong said, "It is difficult to comment as it relates to the president’s personnel authority," but added, "I expect the most suitable candidate to be selected to ensure responsibility, fairness, and expertise in police investigations."

◆When will the 'Police Commission be revitalized'?= The police reform bill passed this time excluded the 'revitalization of the Police Commission.' The Police Commission is a body that deliberates and decides on police administration matters such as personnel, budget, and policy, but it has been criticized for effectively becoming a 'rubber stamp.' Strengthening external control over the police by revitalizing this commission has been a core issue of police reform discussed since the current government took office. However, all related provisions were omitted during the National Assembly discussions. Attention is now on the Police Act amendment bill proposed last month by Im Ho-seon, a member of the Democratic Party and former deputy commissioner of the National Police Agency. The amendment includes provisions for the Police Commission to operate as an independent collegial administrative body and to expand its membership from the current seven to nine. Commissioner General Kim said, "I expect discussions on the proposed amendment to take place going forward."

◆How will the 'intelligence police,' monopolizing domestic intelligence, be controlled?= Reform of the intelligence police, which caused controversies in past administrations due to political involvement and civilian surveillance, is also a matter to watch closely. Especially with the National Intelligence Service reform banning domestic intelligence collection and the transfer of counterintelligence investigative authority to the police in three years, the police will become the sole domestic intelligence-gathering agency. Accordingly, how well the police can control the intelligence police themselves has become a key to realizing police reform. Commissioner General Kim emphasized, "We will specify the targets of intelligence activities and effectively operate internal and external control mechanisms to prevent past practices from recurring."

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