Frontline Police Officers Call for Amendment of the 'Gongmuwonjikhyupbeop'... "Commissioner Must Take Action"

Three Bills to Establish National Federation Submitted to National Assembly
Public Administration Committee Stalled Since February Discussion
Public Hearing Scheduled for 25th... Individual Professional Associations' Statements Also Under Discussion

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Frontline police officers have called for legislative amendments to establish a nationwide workplace council (Jikhyup).

According to the police on the 8th, recently, through the 'Jikhyup Communication Messenger' operated by the National Police Agency, opinions were raised that the amendment to the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of Public Officials' Workplace Councils (Public Officials Jikhyup Act)" must be passed in the regular National Assembly session. It also included the content that Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong should personally take action. The Jikhyup Communication Messenger, introduced last September, serves as a channel to convey suggestions and opinions from various Jikhyups to the National Police Agency.

Since the introduction of police Jikhyup in June last year, individual Jikhyups have been established in over 90% of police stations to date; however, the current Public Officials Jikhyup Act stipulates that Jikhyups can only be established at individual agencies. Because of this, frontline police officers say it is difficult to lead effective consultations on issues that are hard to resolve at the unit level. Currently, three amendment bills to the Public Officials Jikhyup Act, which include establishing a nationwide Jikhyup federation, have been proposed in the National Assembly. However, after being discussed once in February at the full meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee, the committee responsible, no further discussions have taken place, and the amendment process remains sluggish.

The National Police Jikhyup Solidarity plans to hold a public hearing at the National Assembly on the 25th of this month to discuss the amendment to the Public Officials Jikhyup Act, the introduction of the presumed line-of-duty death system, and the application of public security personnel salaries. They also plan to meet with members of the Administrative Safety Committee to urge the prompt passage of the amendment and to issue a statement from individual Jikhyups demanding the amendment of the Public Officials Jikhyup Act. Min Gwan-gi, representative of the National Police Jikhyup Solidarity, emphasized, "It is frustrating that the process is delayed even though related ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety do not oppose the amendment," adding, "For the police, a nationwide organization, to smoothly collect field opinions, a nationwide Jikhyup federation is absolutely necessary."

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