Lee Sang-min Ahead of 'Police Bureau' Establishment, Concludes On-site Meeting... Final Plan to Be Announced on the 15th

Final Meeting, Visit to Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Mobile Headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul
Likely to Consist of 15 Members in 3 Divisions: 'Police Bureau' Personnel, General Affairs, and Autonomy Support

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min has concluded the relay meetings held with frontline police officers ahead of the announcement of the final plan to improve the police system. The minister plans to release the final improvement plan on the 15th.

On the 14th, Minister Lee encouraged frontline police officers and listened to their difficulties at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Mobile Unit Headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. He expressed gratitude to the staff of the Seoul Mobile Unit who are striving to minimize citizen inconvenience and ensure safety during large-scale assemblies, and encouraged the on-site police officers who are quietly fulfilling their duties under difficult conditions.

With the visit to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Mobile Unit Headquarters on this day, Minister Lee concluded the regional frontline police meetings that began on the 1st. After the meeting, he told reporters, "I explained in detail the specific roles of the police-related organization to be established within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety," and added, "Although things may be running smoothly now, I provided sufficient explanations addressing concerns about whether future ministers will operate it according to the intended purpose."

On the morning of the 15th, Minister Lee will announce the final plan for police system improvement, which includes the establishment of a new police-related organization. In a previous interview with Yonhap News, he revealed plans to organize the police-related organization into three divisions?personnel, general affairs, and autonomy support?with 15 members, all of whom will be active-duty police officers. Regarding the name of the police-related organization, he said, "We are considering calling it the Police Bureau," and explained, "The Police Bureau Chief will be a Commissioner General, and the Personnel Division Chief will be a Senior Superintendent or Superintendent."

Opposition from frontline police continues. On the morning of the same day, the Police Officers’ Association (Jik-hyeop) held a press conference at Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul, demanding the withdrawal of the Police Bureau establishment and the actualization of the National Police Commission. A representative of Jik-hyeop stated, "The establishment of the Police Bureau seriously undermines the independence and neutrality of the police and will lead to the political subordination of the police to power," and added, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s push to establish the Police Bureau, which damages police neutrality, must be immediately withdrawn."

The day before, Jik-hyeop also held a press conference in front of Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu. Four members of the Jik-hyeop executive committee conducted a ‘Sambo-ilbae’ protest, walking back and forth about 100 meters from the entrance of Jogyesa Temple to the nearby sidewalk. Min Gwan-gi, president of the Jik-hyeop at Chungju Heungdeok Police Station in Chungbuk, who has been on a hunger strike since the 5th, showed signs of health deterioration and was transported to a hospital.

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