Into Public Safety for People's Livelihood... The Era of Autonomous Police

Holding a Commemoration Ceremony and Sharing Best Practices
President Moon: "Power Institution Reform Efforts"

At the ceremony commemorating the full implementation of the autonomous police system held on the 1st at the Sejong Convention Center, Seo Young-kyo, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee (second from the right), Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Interior and Safety (first from the right), and Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency (third from the right), are saluting the national flag.
[Photo by National Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Cheol-young and Lee Gwan-ju] The era of the ‘Autonomous Police System’ has begun 30 years after the revival of local autonomy.

On the 1st, the Presidential Committee on Local Autonomy, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the National Police Agency held a commemorative event at the Sejong Convention Center to mark the full implementation of the Autonomous Police System. During the first part of the ceremony, after reviewing the process of introducing the autonomous police system, attendees including Seo Young-kyo, Chair of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee; lawmakers Lee Myung-soo, Kim Young-bae, Seo Beom-su, and Lim Ho-seon; Heo Tae-jeong, Mayor of Daejeon; and Kim Han-jong, Chairman of the Council of Chairpersons of City and Provincial Councils, participated in a handprint ceremony. The second part, presided over by the Minister of the Interior and Safety, featured the Chair of the Local Autonomy Committee, the Commissioner of the National Police Agency, and 18 chairpersons of city and provincial autonomous police committees nationwide attending the ‘Autonomous Police Cooperation Meeting’ to share best practices from pilot operations and discuss system improvements.

Among the regional autonomous police policies, measures to protect socially vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly stand out. Incheon selected the ‘Top 10 Tasks for Incheon Autonomous Police to Ensure Child Safety,’ presenting comprehensive measures on traffic safety, child abuse, and school violence. Gwangju launched a ‘Comprehensive Traffic Safety Plan for Child Protection Zones,’ focusing on inspection and improvement of school zone facilities. Jeonbuk chose a ‘Comprehensive Safety Plan for Socially Vulnerable Groups (Children and Adolescents),’ Jeonnam implemented a ‘Comprehensive Safety Plan for Preventing Crime Victimization of the Elderly,’ and Gyeongnam selected ‘Safe School Routes from Home to School for Children’ as their first policy.

Crime prevention policies reflecting regional characteristics are also being implemented. Jeju, the country’s largest tourist destination, launched ‘Comprehensive Security Activities for Vacation Season’ to prevent sexual crimes and traffic accidents at major tourist sites, while Busan prepared a ‘Comprehensive Security Plan for the Opening of Beaches.’ Many measures to strengthen communication with citizens were proposed as well. Busan became the first among autonomous police nationwide to promote a ‘Security Living Lab,’ a collaboration among civil, public, and academic sectors to identify security issues in local communities and incorporate improvement plans into policies. Daegu established a ‘Citizen-Centered Network Council’ involving local organizations centered around the autonomous police committee, and Chungbuk expanded and reorganized the existing community policing council operated by the police station into an ‘Autonomous Police Policy Field Advisory Group.’

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated, "We will spare no cooperation and support at the police agency level to firmly root the autonomous police system as a new institution and culture." Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Interior and Safety, said, "It is important to create a regionally tailored security ecosystem through various resident governance in local communities and balanced activities by autonomous police committee members," adding, "We will support the swift establishment of the autonomous police system in local communities through related institutional improvements."

President Moon Jae-in also congratulated the implementation of the autonomous police system via social media on the same day and promised support for its stabilization. President Moon said, "The autonomous police system is an important part of the power institution reform efforts that our government has prioritized," and expressed expectations that "it will decentralize police authority and strengthen democratic control to enhance public safety and convenience." He urged, "Relevant agencies must closely cooperate to quickly resolve any confusion or concerns that may arise in the early stages of implementation and ensure rapid establishment on the ground," and pledged, "The government will actively support the autonomous police system to firmly take root and improve the quality of life for local residents. I hope local residents will regard it as the police we operate and actively utilize it."

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