Gwangju City Autonomous Police Committee Launched... Oh Yoon-su Elected as Standing Member

Temporary Delegation of Police Officer Appointment Authority to Gwangju Police Chief Until June 30

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Autonomous Police Committee held its inauguration ceremony, plaque unveiling ceremony, and the first meeting consecutively at City Hall on the 10th, officially commencing its operations.

In the afternoon, following the appointment ceremony of Chairman Kim Tae-bong and committee members, the plaque unveiling ceremony of the Gwangju Autonomous Police Committee was held at the entrance of the 12th-floor secretariat office. Attendees included Mayor Lee Yong-seop, City Council Chairman Kim Yong-jip, City Council Administrative Autonomy Committee Chairman Lee Hong-il, City Council members Kim Hak-sil and Song Hyung-il, President Moon’s Committee on Local Autonomy Chair Kim Soon-eun, Police Agency Planning and Coordination Officer Choi Kwan-ho, Gwangju Police Agency Chief Kim Gyo-tae, and autonomous police committee members.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop emphasized, “For the successful implementation and establishment of the Gwangju-type autonomous police system, smooth communication and cooperation among related organizations must be supported,” adding, “Although this is the first time and there may be trial and error or differences of opinion between agencies during the operation process, especially at times like these, all decisions must be centered on ‘citizen safety and happiness,’ and the organization must be operated fairly and transparently.”

He also stated, “The autonomous police must not become another form of power, even slightly,” and added, “I ask all committee members to do their best with an attitude of service and dedication for the safe and happy lives of citizens.”

Kim Soon-eun, Chair of the Committee on Local Autonomy, said, “The synergy through cooperation between local administration and police administration will manifest as security policies specialized for Gwangju City,” and expressed sincere support, saying, “I sincerely hope that related organizations will gather wisdom centered on the Autonomous Police Committee and that citizens will feel the results.”

Police Agency Chief Kim Chang-ryong also conveyed a message, stating, “At this moment of the greatest institutional change since the establishment of the autonomous police system, I consider it meaningful that the autonomous police system most suitable for the current situation in our country is taking a new leap forward in Gwangju,” and added, “With today’s inauguration ceremony as a starting point, I hope the Gwangju autonomous police system will settle early by listening to the voices of Gwangju citizens and promoting policies that meet citizens’ expectations. The Police Agency will also gather all its capabilities to actively support this.”

After the event, the Gwangju Autonomous Police Committee held its first meeting to deliberate and resolve agenda items such as the election of a standing committee member.

At the meeting, Oh Yoon-soo, former head of the Security Division at the Gwangju Police Agency, was elected and recommended as the standing committee member who will concurrently serve as the head of the secretariat in a full-time capacity.

The standing committee member is scheduled to be appointed on the 13th to a political position equivalent to Grade 3 after undergoing the local government employee recruitment process.

The city explained that Chairman Kim Tae-bong, a legal and human rights expert, will oversee the overall autonomous police policy, and the standing committee member will be appointed from a professional police background to perform complementary functions.

Additionally, the appointment authority for police officers responsible for autonomous police affairs, granted to the committee, will be temporarily delegated to the Gwangju Police Agency Chief until June 30, the day before the official launch.

Previously, the autonomous police committees of Chungnam, Gangwon, and Daejeon, which were launched earlier, also resolved to temporarily delegate appointment authority.

Kim Tae-bong, Chairman of the Gwangju Autonomous Police Committee, said, “I feel a heavy responsibility,” and stated, “I will make the most of the nearly two-month pilot operation period to minimize trial and error and devote all my efforts to providing police services centered on the value of human rights that come closer to citizens.”

The provincial autonomous police committees will be launched simultaneously nationwide on July 1, with Gwangju starting its pilot operation as the sixth, following Chungnam, Gangwon, Daejeon, Jeju, and Busan.

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