Gwangju City Begins Practical Work Including Enactment and Revision of Ordinances Ahead of Autonomous Police System

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 16th that it has officially begun practical work such as enacting and revising ordinances to ensure smooth preparation for the full implementation of the autonomous police system starting in July.

The autonomous police system separates police affairs into national and autonomous affairs, designating community safety, traffic, security, and closely related investigative affairs as autonomous affairs, thereby providing resident-oriented public safety administrative services tailored to regional characteristics.

Following the passage of amendments to the Police Act and Police Officers Act in the National Assembly last December, Gwangju established the Autonomy and Decentralization Team and the 'Autonomous Police Preparation Task Force (TF)' within the Autonomous Administration Division on January 18 as a follow-up measure. The Gwangju Police Agency also completed the establishment of the 'Autonomous Police Promotion Team,' finalizing the setup of dedicated organizations.

The Autonomous Police Committee, which will serve as the control tower for autonomous police affairs in the Gwangju area, will be established as a deliberative administrative body under the mayor. The committee will handle major policy deliberations and resolutions related to autonomous police affairs, audits and grievance reviews of autonomous police affairs, and consultations with the National Police Agency regarding affairs coordination.

The Autonomous Police Committee will consist of seven members: the mayor nominates one member, the city council and the committee nomination committee each recommend two members, and the city superintendent of education and the National Police Commission each recommend one member.

The chairperson will be appointed by the mayor at a level equivalent to Grade 2 political position, and the standing member will be appointed at a level equivalent to Grade 3 political position upon the chairperson's recommendation.

The remaining five members will serve as non-standing members. During the composition process, the city plans to closely consult with recommending organizations to ensure participation of individuals from diverse fields who have a high understanding of the region and public safety, political neutrality, and expertise.

An office will also be established to provide practical support to the Autonomous Police Committee. The office will be staffed by the chairperson, standing member, local government officials, and police officers. Discussions among government ministries regarding the budget for autonomous police and the scale of national subsidies are ongoing.

The city has initiated the process of enacting the 'Ordinance on the Organization and Operation of Autonomous Police Affairs and the Autonomous Police Committee of Gwangju Metropolitan City' to institutionally support the operation of the Autonomous Police Committee.

The ordinance draft can be viewed on the city hall website under 'City Administration News - Notices/Announcements/Legislative Notice,' and opinions can be submitted to the Autonomous Administration Division of city hall by the 26th.

Additionally, amendments to the 'Ordinance on the Establishment of Administrative Organizations of Gwangju Metropolitan City' and the 'Ordinance on the Number of Personnel of Gwangju Metropolitan City,' including the formation of the office, are planned to be completed by mid-May.

To incorporate diverse citizen opinions on the autonomous police system, the city is also planning a 'Gwangju-type Autonomous Police System Opinion Gathering Meeting' involving the city, National Police Agency, city council, professors from police-related departments, media, and civic groups.

To address potential issues that may arise during the early stages of the Autonomous Police Committee's operation, the city plans to conduct a pilot operation until the end of June after establishing the office.

Kim Il-yong, Director of the Autonomous Administration Bureau of the city, said, "With the implementation of the autonomous police system, we expect to provide more closely connected public safety services that reflect residents' demands," adding, "Gwangju City and the National Police Agency will communicate closely to ensure perfect preparation for the launch on July 1 without any setbacks."

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