Disputes Within Police Over the Push for 'Jeonguk Jikhyeop'

Police Agency Sends Official Letter to Halt
"Exceeds the Scope Allowed by Law"
National Journalists Association: "We Just Want to Create a Communication Channel"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The police, undergoing rapid changes such as the adjustment of prosecution and police investigation rights, the introduction of the autonomous police system, and the establishment of the National Investigation Headquarters, have been engulfed in internal conflict over the establishment of a nationwide workplace council (Jik-hyeop). Since June last year, the establishment of workplace councils has been permitted, and currently, workplace councils are operating in 266 police stations including provincial police agencies and frontline police stations. As the establishment of a nationwide workplace council is being promoted mainly by some workplace council representatives, the National Police Agency has put the brakes on it, and the workplace councils have rebutted this, escalating the conflict.

According to the police on the 22nd, the National Police Agency recently issued an official letter titled “Emphasis on Compliance with Laws Regarding the Operation of Public Officials’ Workplace Councils” to police stations at all levels. In the letter, the National Police Agency stated, "There have been recent movements to establish a federation of workplace councils among some police stations," and warned, "This exceeds the scope permitted by law." The regulation cited by the National Police Agency is the Enforcement Decree of the Public Officials’ Workplace Council Act. Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Enforcement Decree clearly states, “A single council cannot be established across two or more institutions, nor can a federation of councils be established.”

Discussions on establishing a nationwide workplace council have been ongoing steadily since last year, representing frontline police officers’ voices regarding the adjustment of investigation rights and the introduction of the autonomous police system. Criticism has arisen that this violates the law, along with concerns that the nationwide workplace council might ultimately aim to become a labor union.

In response, the nationwide workplace council denies the labor union controversy and states that the nature of the nationwide workplace council is merely a solidarity and exchange body among representatives of each workplace council, not a federation council as defined by law. Min Gwan-gi, a representative of the nationwide workplace council (Cheongju Heungdeok Police Station, Lieutenant), said, “Issues such as shortening the promotion period based on seniority and salary problems for police public security personnel are challenges for the entire national police that cannot be resolved by individual workplace councils alone,” and pointed out, “Unlike local governments, in the police operating nationwide, individual workplace councils have limitations in collecting and expressing opinions.” He added, “We do not collect membership fees or conduct business like a labor union, so the criticism that we are becoming a labor union is unfair,” and said, “We want to create a communication channel, but it is regrettable that the police leadership seems to view this only negatively.”

Meanwhile, the National Police Agency has requested an official interpretation from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety regarding the nationwide workplace council. The nationwide workplace council plans to request meetings with the National Police Commission and the National Police Agency to seek a way forward.

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