Seoul City Launches 'Autonomous Police Committee'... Kim Hak-bae, Former Ulsan Provincial Police Chief, Appointed Chairman

Mayor Oh Se-hoon Receives Appointment Letter on the 25th... Direct Administrative Agency Oversees Safety, Traffic, and Regional Security
Full-Scale Activities Begin from Next Month 1st

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City is set to launch the seven-member ‘Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee’ ahead of the full implementation of the ‘Autonomous Police System’ on July 1.

According to Seoul City on the 24th, Mayor Oh Se-hoon will present appointment letters to the members (chairperson) of the ‘Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee’ at Seoul City Hall on the 25th. About 20 people, including Mayor Oh, Kim In-ho, Chairperson of the Seoul City Council, and Jang Ha-yeon, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, will attend the event.

The ‘Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee’ is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in human rights, including female members, and professionals from the legal field, academia, and former police officers with diverse backgrounds. The committee consists of seven members, including the chairperson. According to the ‘Act on the Organization and Operation of the National Police and Autonomous Police,’ the committee is made up of seven members: one appointed by the mayor and six recommended by related organizations such as the city council and the superintendent of education.

The inaugural chairperson of the Autonomous Police Committee is Kim Hak-bae, former Commissioner of the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency. The members are ▲ Kwon Seong-yeon, lawyer at Minsan Law Office ▲ Kim Seong-seop, former Human Rights Protection Officer at the National Police Agency ▲ Kim Seong-tae, professor of law at Hongik University ▲ Lee Chang-han, professor of police administration at Dongguk University ▲ Jang Jeon-bae, former Commissioner of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency ▲ and Jwa Se-jun, lawyer at Hanmaek Law Firm.

The Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee is a consensus-based administrative body directly under the mayor. It oversees the command and supervision of autonomous police affairs, personnel management of police officers responsible for autonomous police duties, policy formulation, and budget allocation related to Seoul’s autonomous police.

To actively support the committee’s activities and administrative tasks, Seoul City has established a dedicated secretariat under the committee, consisting of one bureau, three divisions, and 56 staff members. The secretariat is located at the Mugyo-dong office building and is responsible for the committee’s affairs through three departments: the ‘Autonomous Police General Division,’ the ‘Autonomous Police Cooperation Division,’ and the ‘Autonomous Police Support Division.’

Meanwhile, the ‘Autonomous Police System’ is a system where local governments command and supervise police duties closely related to residents’ daily lives, such as ‘community safety’ (including children and youth), ‘traffic,’ and ‘regional security.’ Autonomous police duties are mainly composed of the ‘community safety’ and ‘traffic and regional security’ sectors, which are closely connected to citizens’ lives.

The Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee will begin full-scale activities starting July 1, including selecting a standing member who will concurrently serve as the head of the secretariat at its first meeting.

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