Police Agency, Transition Committee Work Report "Commissioner Should Also Be Elevated to Ministerial Level"

Need to Upgrade Current Deputy Minister Level
President-Elect Yoon Also Emphasizes Through Promise
Includes Introduction of Multiple Rank System
Position to Maintain Current Police-Prosecutor Investigation Authority

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Cho and Sehee Jang] The National Police Agency is reported to have prepared a plan to elevate the Commissioner of the National Police Agency from the current vice-ministerial level to a ministerial level in the presidential transition committee's work report on the 24th. It is also said that the agency will explain to the transition committee the necessity of maintaining the current investigative authority between the police and prosecution, as well as the introduction of a multiple rank system.

The National Police Agency will conduct a political, judicial, and administrative subcommittee work report at 4:30 p.m. on the same day at the transition committee office in Tongui-dong, Seoul. The report, led by Deputy Commissioner Gyohun Jin, is expected to last about two hours. According to the 'Work Report Preparation Guidelines' previously issued by the transition committee, the report will likely proceed in the order of ▲general status ▲major tasks ▲evaluation of key policies over the past five years ▲plans for addressing current issues and risks ▲pledge implementation plans ▲regional pledge review ▲additional key promotion tasks.

The police are expected to prioritize reporting the necessity of elevating the Commissioner of the National Police Agency to a ministerial level. There have been continuous criticisms within the police that the head of the nationwide 140,000-strong organization being at the vice-ministerial level is not appropriate. In the work report, it is said that the police will convey the position that "given the increased authority and responsibility following the adjustment of investigative rights between the police and prosecution, the vice-ministerial level of the Commissioner does not reflect the reality." To elevate the Commissioner to a ministerial level, the Police Act must be amended. A revision bill, introduced by Democratic Party lawmaker Cheongrae Jeong in June 2020, allows the Commissioner, who holds the rank of Police General, to receive the salary of a ministerial-level public official. President-elect Yoon promised last month during his presidential campaign visit to the Korea Veterans Association that "once elected president, I will definitely raise the rank of the Commissioner of the National Police Agency to minister level."

The police plan to propose the introduction of a multiple rank system in the work report. The multiple rank system allows people of different ranks to be assigned to the same position. While this system is operated in most central government agencies, it has not been introduced in the police. If applied to the police, for example, the position of division chief at the National Police Agency, currently held by a Senior Superintendent, could also be held by a Police Commissioner. The police expect this to ease bottlenecks in senior personnel appointments.

Regarding the readjustment of investigative authority, the police are expected to express the need to largely maintain the current system. Previously, Nam Gujun, head of the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters, said at a press conference on the 21st, "The adjustment of investigative authority was achieved after over 20 years of gathering diverse opinions and deliberations, leading to amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act." He added, "The pledge is to amend the law so that prosecutors can directly investigate after referral, and we will consult with the Ministry of Justice and prosecution from the perspective of public convenience." However, it remains uncertain how much of the police’s report will be accepted by the transition committee. President-elect Yoon has shown a critical view of the investigative authority adjustment under the Moon Jae-in administration and is also considering expanding the scope of direct investigations by prosecutors. Issues such as the excessive workload on frontline police officers, investigation delays, and poor investigations that arose after the adjustment of investigative authority remain challenges to be addressed.

Additionally, the police plan to present measures to protect socially vulnerable groups such as women and children. Since President-elect Yoon has pledged security policies including the establishment of a comprehensive system to eradicate child abuse and requiring stalking crime perpetrators to wear smartwatches, the police intend to report related implementation plans.

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