Police Agency: "MOIS Advisory Committee Recommendations Are a Step Back in the History and Development of the Police"

On the 21st, when the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Police System Improvement Advisory Committee is scheduled to announce recommendations on police control measures, the police flag is fluttering in the wind at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Police System Improvement Advisory Committee will announce the recommendations on this day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] On the 21st, the National Police Agency criticized the police control recommendations put forward by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's 'Police System Improvement Advisory Committee,' stating that "it goes against the historical development process of the police and fails to properly reflect the fundamental spirit of the police system, such as democracy."

On the same day, after holding a video conference with provincial police agencies chaired by Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong, the National Police Agency expressed concerns that "the advisory committee's recommendations could undermine the rule of law, which is the foundation of the national organization and a basic principle of the Constitution." The agency added, "Police systems and activities directly affect the lives, bodies, human rights, and freedoms of the people, and any side effects ultimately fall on the public. We must deeply recognize that the foundation of police operations could change and approach this with caution, considering its influence and ripple effects more than ever."

Previously, in 1991, the National Police Agency separated from the Ministry of Home Affairs (now the Ministry of the Interior and Safety) to ensure the democracy and independence of the police. Under the Government Organization Act, public security was removed from the Ministry of Home Affairs Minister's duties, and the Police Act was enacted so that the National Police Agency would carry out police administration under the control of the National Police Commission. Since then, the police side explains that democratic control has been further strengthened by installing the National Investigation Headquarters and introducing the autonomous police system to decentralize police authority. However, the advisory committee's recommendations from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on this day are policies that go against this historical development process.

The National Police Agency also requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to form a broad social consultative body involving experts from various sectors of society, the public, and field police officers to continue wide-ranging discussions. They added that they hope a comprehensive reform plan will be prepared that expands the discussion to include not only administrative control but also citizen control and decentralization across the entire police system.

The National Police Agency stated, "We will actively participate in follow-up discussions and do our best to derive the optimal solution that harmonizes the social demand for democratic control of police power with the fundamental value of political neutrality."

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